> My Little Pony: Arceus and the Displaced Village
>  by Cloudhammer
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Lost
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Okay, good. The banners are hung properly,” Twilight muttered, checking off another item on her list. Four other scrolls orbited around her, each with its own quill. Accompanied by a pair of unicorn guards, she made her way across the clearing to where the stage was being prepared. A frown crossed her muzzle as she peered at the base of the stage. “Wait, hold on a second. This is all wrong.”

“What is it, Twilight?” Princess Celestia asked as she trotted over.

“The stage is just a little off center, which doesn’t make any sense. Did somepony move it?” Twilight asked as she glanced up at her former mentor.

“I don’t think that’s likely, Twilight,” Celestia replied, looking closer at the stage. “I suppose it’s possible you might have missed it. It has been ten years since we've held a Summer Sun Celebration here, after all.”

“No, I couldn’t have,” Twilight muttered as she unrolled the scroll. “No, it says right here, ‘Stage position’, and it’s checked. So I checked it.” She frowned, "Unless I mis-checked it... ugh, this is why I wish Spike were here, he never mischecks things..."

“Well, even if it's a little out of place, you should enjoy yourself more. This is your first time attending one of these as a princess, after all,” Celestia said with a wink. Glancing up at the sun, she rubbed a hoof at her forehead. "Does it feel hot out here to you, Twilight?"

“What do you mean, Princess?” Twilight asked.

Celestia glared up at the sun, then gripped her horn with a hoof, dragging it down her face like a zipper. Too stunned to even say anything, Twilight, the guards, and the castle staff stared incredulously as something began to force its way free of Celestia’s body.

“I swear, I don’t know how Pinkie does it,” the mismatched creature said sardonically, squirming awkwardly as a pair of arms joined its head, pushing the limp skin off. “Her costumes just don’t breathe at all.”

“Discord! Just what is the meaning of this? Where is Princess Celestia?” Twilight demanded, annoyance replacing her prior shock.

Discord shook his leg, tossing the costume to the side. “Heck if I know, probably still up in the castle. She wouldn’t let me help with any of the preparations, so I decided to borrow this from Pinkie and stir up some fun.” He glanced back at it, then snapped his fingers. The costume shimmered and exploded into butterflies, each colored to match where on the costume it had come from. “We’re going to Donut Joe’s later, do you want to come?”

Twilight shuddered. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.” Being anywhere near Pinkie Pie on sugar could be considered a health hazard, let alone when Discord was added to the formula.

“Oh well, suit yourself.” Discord snapped his claws again, and the swirling butterflies organized into a conga line that filed into his ear. "You and I both know you'd lose anyway."

Twilight snorted in dismissal. “Just... try not to break anything,” she muttered, turning to inspect the stage again. Frowning at the errant corner, a pulse of her magic returned it to its proper place. “Okay, now that that’s done, next up is the food preparation. Hopefully Applejack and the kitchen staff aren’t at each other’s throats again...”

Discord waited until he was sure Twilight was far enough away, then flicked his talon at the stage. With a slight groan of protest, it was once again slightly out of alignment. “There, much better.” With a chuckle, he plucked a pair of sunglasses out of the last two butterflies and perched them on his nose. “Now, can’t keep Pinkie waiting. Maybe this time I’ll beat her in that donut eating contest...” he mused as he walked directly up into the sky.





“Come on everypony, let’s keep it up!” Mayor Mare shouted encouragingly. “We’ve only got a little bit more to go, and then we’ll get the celebration underway!”

There was a cheer as the ponies working to decorate Town Hall redoubled their efforts. The layout wasn’t quite as precise as last year with Rarity away in Canterlot, but the town made do like it always did. Ribbons snaked their way back and forth overhead, while the banners had been carefully taken out of storage and hung. Tables were placed along the wall, ponies bringing in decorations, trays, and baskets of food in an almost never-ending stream.

Mayor trotted through the chaos with ease, nodding as she passed each station. “Come on Cloudchaser, Flitter, let's get those ribbons up. Blossomforth, careful with that banner. Okay, that's done... food preparation's next. Big Macintosh!" she called. "The food will be ready on time, yes?"

He nodded, switching his wheat stalk to the other corner of his mouth. “Eeyup.”

“Excellent, give my thanks to Granny Smith for giving us part of the harvest.” She turned, giving the decorations another glance, before a blur of motion caught her eye. “And just where are you taking that lumber, you three?”

Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom all froze, and the planks they’d been carrying fell to the floor. “Umm, recycling?” Sweetie Belle replied with a weak grin.

Mayor Mare simply shook her head. “I don't know what you have planned, and that's probably for the better, but it stays here. Now, the preparations are almost complete, so run along and play.”

The fillies nodded, and galloped for the door. “Well, that was a bust. Where are we going to find the wood for our Decoration Cannon?” Scootaloo asked irritably.

“I dunno... do you think that maybe we should have asked Pinkie about how the Party Cannon works before she left for Canterlot?” Sweetie Belle replied, scuffing at the ground with a hoof. “What do you think, Applebloom?” When no reply came, she turned to see the filly staring up at the sky in confusion. “What is it?”

“Should the sky be glowin’ like that?” Applebloom asked, pointing with a hoof as the other two Crusaders looked up.





The Summer Sun Celebration was in full swing, the moon almost at the height of the sky. The Bearers held the seats of honor next to the Princesses. Celestia was absent for the time being, opting to prepare herself for the sunrise. On Cadance’s far side, her husband Shining Armor was in the middle of a story about Twilight as a foal.

“—and so then Twilight looks up at me from the floor, maple syrup is just everywhere, and she says with a completely straight face: ‘Smartypants did it.’”

The entire table burst into laughter, while Twilight’s face burned red.

“Oh, and how about the time I caught you and Cadance ‘wrestling’ in Mom and Dad’s room?” Twilight finally shot back.

Cadance buried her face in her hooves, while Shining rolled his eyes. “Twily, I keep telling you, we really were wrestling.” He sighed dejectedly. “Although, Cady usually wins.”

Rarity laughed as she levitated her wineglass for a drink, but also to bat her eyelashes at a particularly attractive stallion. No sense letting her last foray into romance color the future. "I'm just relieved to have some time away from the Boutique. My new dress line may be turning heads, but spend enough time in front of the sewing machine and it starts to haunt you."

"I hear ya, Rare," Applejack said as she reached for another roll. "Apple trees do the same thing." She glanced down towards Fluttershy. "Don't let me forget, we got to talk to those beavers of yours. I caught 'em tryin' to back up the stream in the south field again."

"Oh, of course," Fluttershy replied. "I'm sure they wouldn't mind moving to the river next to the farm. We'll go see them as soon as we get back to Ponyville."

Pinkie had elected to sit next to Discord, and the two were leaning in close, pencils scribbling as they swapped joke pointers. "See, you've got it all wrong, Discord," Pinkie whispered, glancing at Rainbow Dash with a giggle. "On the spot jokes are great, but it's the ones that take time that are the best. For example, Rainbow's going to find out I added a little something special to her cider, but not until tomorrow morning when she wakes up with rainbow teeth!" She stifled a louder giggle as Rainbow gave her a wary look.

Rarity smiled at her friend's antics as she took another sip of wine, then wiped at her muzzle. Sure, they were still drawing dismissive glances from the Canterlot elite, but overall the affair was going splendidly. She could see a few of her dresses among the crowd, and could already guess how many new orders she'd receive. Lowering her napkin, she frowned as she saw a bright crimson stain. “That’s odd, the wine isn’t this shade of red.”

She was about to ask a passing server for another when the armored pegasus crashed into the table. Dishes flew everywhere as the thick wood , and for a long second everypony was deathly silent, trying to figure out just what had happened. Then somepony screamed, and the dam broke: some ponies ran away, others fainted, and a few crowded forward to try to help.

“My dress!” Rarity shrieked on instinct, before she remembered what had caused the mess in the first place. “Is he alright?”

Princess Luna had already gotten to her hooves and was staring intently at the stallion’s hindleg. “I’m afraid he is not.” She turned her head as another pegasus guard landed. “Send for the medical unicorns at once. I will tend to him until they arrive. Everypony else, please give me some room.”

“Of course, your Highness.” The guard saluted and took off again, angling toward the city. The crowd of ponies began to move back, forming a quiet circle around the fallen pony.

Satisfied, Luna lowered her head to examine the injured guard’s hindleg. He’d managed to wrap it to contain the worst of the bleeding, but it couldn’t hide one simple fact. A good three inches had been sheared off, almost a perfect cut. She frowned and lit her horn, her magic reaching out to envelop his leg. For a few seconds she concentrated, but the leg stubbornly refused to stop bleeding. Her frown deepened and she levitated a few napkins over to help bandage the injury. Once they were secure she turned her attention to his head, using a trickle of power to bring him back to wakefulness.

He shouted incoherently, wings spasming; and she used another dose of power to calm him. “Be at peace, you are safe now.”

“Prin-Princess?” he asked, a slight waver in his voice. “Had to get to Canterlot... tell you...”

“Tell me what?” she queried gently.

“Ponyville... it’s gone.”
> Found
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The floor chimed as he climbed off the stair, ringing off the columns spaced around the perimeter. Almost simultaneously, the howling wind died down and he shivered nervously.

“Okay, deep breaths. You’ve been preparing for this for a long time,” he muttered as he stared through the floor, the mountaintop visible far below. Looking up, he saw his goal standing atop the pedestal at the far side. It stared at him haughtily, red eyes narrowed as he took another step closer.

“I’ve passed your tests, and I’ve come to capture you!” he shouted as he reached for the orb as his side. “Let’s show him what we’re made of, Garchomp!” He threw the pokeball, and in a burst of light his companion materialized.

Garchomp hissed as Arceus took its own step forward, the air around it beginning to ripple as it drew on its energy. “Are you up yet, dear?” it suddenly asked, the voice strangely familiar.

“What?” he asked, blinking. The reports he’d studied said it could speak, but none of them mentioned it sounding like that.

“Pound Cake, you’re going to be late!” Arceus shouted, the force knocking him and Garchomp off the edge of the platform. His scream was lost as he fell into the darkness…and hit the floor of his bedroom with a grunt. He opened his eyes, panicking briefly as he couldn’t see, until he realized it was his sheets.

“Pound, we talked about this last night!” the voice shouted again, and he cringed as his door swung open. Cup Cake sighed as she saw the bundle of sheets on the floor. “You were so excited when you went to bed, I’d think you would be more prepared than this. Your sister’s already had her breakfast and left for the Mayor’s office.”

Pound flailed about until he threw the sheet back onto his bed, wings and mane rumpled as he bolted to his hooves. “Wait, Pumpkin’s already gone? What time is it?”

Cup glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “Well, it’s ten past nine, so—” she was cut off as Pound buzzed his wings, the colt dashing past her into the hallway for the door.

“I’m gonna be late! Gotta hurry!”


*****


Twilight coughed as she flapped her wings, blowing the smoke away from the table. “Please tell me that it worked,” she muttered as she fought not to sneeze. The walls were covered in runes, some drawn on paper covering ones etched into the walls. As she glanced at the ruby in the array’s center, her ears fell flat. “No.”

The ruby remained stubbornly red, when it should be white.

“Another failure,” Twilight whispered, before her mane started to wave, the air rippling from the power she was bleeding. “Another cursed failure!” She snatched up the gem and flung it at the wall, shards scattering across the room. Her guards remained silent, though one quietly thanked his armor as a larger piece ricocheted off his helmet.

“You know Twilight, a princes really should regulate her emotions better,” Discord said with a chuckle as he heaved himself out of the shards. The horde of miniature draconnequi marched toward and into each other, until he’d reached his usual height. “An alicorn even more so. Don’t want to follow the same path that little scamp Sombra did, after all.”

“I’m doing the best I can!” Twilight snapped, the temperature in the room rising almost ten degrees. She realized it a second later and took a deep breath, the heat dissipating as she exhaled. “Sorry.”

“As fun as you going solar would be, I’m sure your guards appreciate the restraint. Besides, I’m already perfectly tanned, no sense ruining my base layer,” Discord replied, flexing idly. “So, another failure, hmm? I’m surprised, I’d have thought the illustrious Twilight Sparkle could have solved this in a day, much less a week.”

Twilight sighed. “I’m running out of ideas. I’ve never seen any magic like what the samples from the crater were saturated with. Teleporting spells go nowhere, Spike's magical flames just fizzle out. I even had Zecora test her alchemy on them, but nothing came of it either. We’re going through the Archives now, maybe there’s something in there.”

Discord tapped a claw on his chin. “Or maybe you’re not expanding your horizons enough. Why does it always have to be magic with you ponies?”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Okay then, if it’s not magic, than what is it?”

“Heck if I know.” Discord shrugged, then reached behind Twilight’s ear. “But I do know that if you want to scry a place, you need something from there first.” He withdrew an amethyst, the top half neatly sheared off.

“Where did you get this? We dug extensively through the crater and couldn’t find any gems like this.” Twilight seized it with her magic, but immediately dropped it as her magic started to hiss. “What did you do to it?”

“Now that’s just rude, Twilight. I did nothing to it… well, aside from picking it up, taking it back in time, and letting the… whatever it was take half of it with it.” He rubbed the top of his head absently. “Nearly took some of my luxurious hair with it, too.” A comb grew out of his talons as a golden-blonde wig appeared atop his head. Ignoring Twilight, he started to comb it reverently.

“You mean… you…” Twilight sputtered. “Why didn’t you tell us this sooner?”

“Because I wanted to see if you could put the pieces together yourself, of course,” Discord snorted haughtily, dispelling the comb and wig. “Well, and I suppose I might not have thought of it until last night, and it took me a couple tries to get right. Time travelling to a spot where you have a split-second to put a gem next to an extra-dimensional anomaly isn’t easy, you know.” He glanced her way, and seeing Twilight’s frustrated scowl, sighed. “And… I wasn’t thinking entirely clearly, either.” He put a paw on Twilight’s shoulder. “I do have friends there too, you know.”

Twilight nodded, a slight smile on her face. “I know. And thank you. This gem might be the best chance we have yet!” She trotted eagerly toward her table, magic already sweeping it clean.

“Twilight?” Discord called. “Good luck.” He grinned sheepishly. “I’ll also need that paw back.”

Twilight sighed and levitated the paw off her shoulder. She started to float it toward him, but stopped as a smirk began to grow on her muzzle. “Nah, that’s too easy.” She turned, and tossed it out the window. “Next time, keep 'em to yourself.”

Discord laughed. “And here I was starting to worry there was no hope for you at all.” He threw a jaunty salute with the other paw and darted out the window.

Twilight rolled her eyes as she carefully set the gem in the center of the array. “Okay. Let’s see what we’ve got…” Her magic flowed into the outer circle, the runes starting to reflect the light.





Zipping past the Pokemon Center, Pound felt his wings burning as he pushed them to their limit. He flashed through the market, barely dodging the shoppers with shouted apologies. City Hall was just on the other side, and he could see the gathered ponies, humans, and pokemon.

“I just want to thank everypony for coming,” the Mayor’s voice called out. “In the ten years since the accident that brought our town here, the humans and Pokemon alike have welcomed us with open arms. Sure, it was a little tough at first,” a ripple of laughter ran through the crowd as she smiled, “but together we found our place. It is in the spirit of that unity that we present these young ponies with their first companions, to undertake their own pokemon journeys.”

She turned to a small pedestal, upon which several pokeballs lay. “Inside each of these pokeballs is a pokemon, given to us by the Pokemon League, Sinnoh Branch. Choose wisely, each one has their own strengths and weaknesses.” She consulted her clipboard. “Pumpkin Cake, since you were first to arrive, you may choose your partner first.” Pound winced as his sister stuck her tongue out at him before walking up to the pedestal.

“Hmmmm… I’m choosing you, Chimchar!” she proclaimed, tapping the middle pokeball with a hoof. The simian appeared in a flash of light, squinting at the sudden brightness. Once its vision cleared, it peered at Pumpkin curiously before hugging her.

“An excellent choice, Pumpkin!” Mayor smiled, before turning to the next pony in line. “Cream Puff, it’s your turn.”

Cream gulped, the earth pony nervously approaching the remaining two pokeballs. “Um, I think I’m going to pick Piplup.” She tapped the pokeball, flinching as the penguin pokemon materialized in front of her. “Well hello there,” she said, only to blink as the pokemon turned away from her dismissively. “Come on, don’t be like that. My name’s Cream Puff, I’m your trainer now.”

Piplup gave her a glance and huffed, starting to waddle away.

“H-hey! Don’t wander off!” Cream shouted, grabbing the pokeball and hurrying after it.

“Well, all the best of luck, Cream!” Mayor called after her before turning to Pound. “And that leaves you with Turtwig, Pound. I know that together, you’ll teach each other plenty—” She stopped as the sky abruptly pulsed purple, the air crackling with static electricity. The open space on the stage seemed to twist in on itself, before collapsing into a swirling tunnel. Many of the assembled trainers readied their pokeballs, while the free pokemon took up fighting stances.

“Everypony stay calm!” Mayor shouted, motioning for Pound to stand behind her. “This can’t be…” she whispered.

“What is it, Mayor?” Pound asked, nervously picking up Turtwig’s pokeball.

Whatever Mayor Mare was going to say was left unsaid as a shadowed figure became visible in the tunnel. Features gradually came into focus, until purple hooves stepped cautiously onto the stage.

“T-Twilight?” Mayor asked incredulously.

Twilight gaped, before she charged forward and swept the elderly mare up in a hug. “Mayor, it’s so good to see you! After what happened, I was so worried, everypony was! I don’t think anypony slept this past week, we were working so hard—”

“A week?” Mayor blurted, eyes growing wide. “Twilight, did you say a week?”

“Well yes, I… I did...” Twilight’s eyes soon matched Mayor’s as she looked around town. “Mayor… how long has it been for you?”

Mayor took a deep breath. “Twilight… I don’t know how else to tell you… But it’s been ten years.”
> Spreading the Word
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight had battled against insane alicorns, a rogue god, an army of shapeshifters, an entity of darkness, and worse in her life. Her powers were still growing as she continued to come into her newfound status. And yet, despite all that she’d seen in her relatively short life, nothing had given her pause like those five words. “But… wait, what?”

Mayor Mare nodded somberly, almost unwilling to meet her gaze. “I’m afraid so, Twilight.”

Twilight took a hesitant step back, shaking her head slowly. “No… no, that’s impossible…” She looked around, finally taking in the strange buildings that hadn’t been in town a week ago, the strange creatures standing beside the townsponies. “But I just saw you all last week…” She stopped as she saw a familiar figure in the crowd. “Big Mac!” She half-jumped, half-glided down from the platform to him. “This has to be some kind of hallucination, right? Something from the Everfree, or one of Discord’s pranks—”

“Eenope,” Big Mac said firmly, putting a hoof on her shoulder. “It’s been ten years, Princess.”

She stared up at him, eyes pleading as they met his. The usual laconic expression was still there, but it was weighed down by sorrow and resignation. She shivered as it started to sink in that the mayor might be right, that it really had been ten years. Her ears fell flat as she tried to rationalize the magnitude of the disaster, and tried to figure out a way to fix it.

“Twilight, I know this is a shock for you,” Mayor Mare said as she climbed down from the platform. “Believe me, it was for all of us when it happened.” She laughed wryly. “But we made do.”

Twilight shook her head as she looked around again, stopping as she saw Pound and Pumpkin on the porch. “P-Pound? Pumpkin? Is it really you?” She spotted the strange primate huddling behind Pumpkin’s leg and gasped. “That monkey’s on fire!” Her horn lit as she started to summon water, only to stop as Pumpkin stamped her hooves.

“Twilight, that’s how he’s supposed to be! Chimchar’s a Fire type, after all,” she said matter-of-factly.

“What?” Twilight asked incredulously. She blinked in surprise as she peered closer, realizing the flames coming from the creature weren’t burning Pumpkin’s coat. “Okay... so assuming I believe any of what you’re telling me, now we need to figure out what to do from here.” She glanced at the portal, frowning as she noted the wavering at the edges. “First things first, I need to stabilize the rift, keep it from closing. I can only assume the temporal distortion is held off by the bridging between… wherever here is and Equestria. Once that’s firmed up, I’ll be back.” She hopped back up onto the porch and started to trot toward the portal. “I’m going to fix this, I promise.”

“Twilight, wait!” Mayor Mare shouted as Twilight vanished into the swirling energy, a brief flash of light blinding everyone present. Rubbing at her eyes, she peered forlornly into the rift. “Twilight…”

Her moment of quiet was broken by a sudden outburst of shouting, the assembled humans, ponies, and Pokemon all breaking free of the silence Twilight’s arrival had locked them into. She felt the bottom drop out of her stomach as she turned to face the agitated crowd. “Oh dear…”





Twilight stumbled as she emerged from the portal, the familiar sights of her laboratory in Canterlot surrounding her. She caught the edge of the table as her vision swam, her chest hiking as she tried to comprehend what she’d learned. “Ten years… but that’s impossible… burning monkeys...”

“Take it easy there, Twilight.” Discord snapped his fingers and a couch appeared next to her. He helped her settle onto it before he spawned an armchair. “Just breathe.”

“It’s all impossible!” she shouted, trying to leap off the couch, only to run smack into a wall of force as Discord leaned forward.

“Relax, Twilight. Doctor’s orders.” He reached up and tugged on his horn until it broke off, the bone wriggling as it morphed into a miniature replica of the draconequus. “Go fetch Celestia and the others, please.”

The replica saluted before vanishing. Discord turned back to his ‘patient’. “Now, tell me about your relationship with your father.”

Twilight blinked. “Wait, what?” She rolled upright as the wall of force dissipated. “What in the world does that have to do with anything?”

Discord sat back, scribbling on his notepad. “Oh, nothing. But it did help snap you back into it.” He tossed the notepad over his shoulder and into thin air as he stood up. “In any case, what did you see?”

Twilight shook her head. “It was Ponyville. But… Mayor Mare said they’d been gone for ten years. And there were all manner of strange… creatures there too. And… I think I saw Pound and Pumpkin Cake, just older…” She swayed and fell back onto the couch. “I don’t want to admit it, but I think they really have been gone for ten years.”

“Hmmmm, I suppose it’s possible. Temporal manipulation isn’t foal’s play, after all. Especially when crossing the dimensional divide like you did.” Discord tapped a claw on his chin as he paced. “In any case, for right now, I suggest that you do what you ponies do best.” He continued walking onto the wall as the door slammed open. “Get help from your friends.”

“Twilight!” A pink rocket was the first thing through the door, knocking Twilight to the floor in a crushing hug. The rest of the Bearers weren’t too far behind Pinkie, concern mixed with relief at finding Twilight unharmed.

“Did you find everypony? How are Big Mac and Apple Bloom?” Applejack asked.

“Is Sweetie Belle alright? I couldn’t forgive myself if something happened to her or my parents.”

“What about Scootaloo, and the rest of town?” Rainbow Dash added.

“Tell me you saw Angel,” Fluttershy interrupted, tears welling up. “Oh, I should have brought him with me, I told him I’d only be gone for a few days. He must be worried sick.”

Twilight tried to answer, but Pinkie’s hug refused to let up, only allowing her a raspy squeak.

“Twilight, what happened?” Celestia asked on reflex as she entered the room, before she fixed her attention on Discord. “Unless you’d care to shed some light on this?”

Despite himself, Discord couldn’t help the shiver at the look in Celestia’s eyes. “Now now, I had nothing to do with this. Well, I may have enabled it, but the rest was purely her decision. Besides, she’s fine, and so is Ponyville, apparently.”

“He’s right, Princess,” Twilight said as she extricated herself from her friends. “But, I’m afraid that there’s been some sort of temporal distortion between the two apertures.” She gestured at the portal. “On their side, they claim that ten years have passed.”

Everypony present fell silent, eyes widening as they tried to process what Twilight had just said. Mouths opened and closed, but it was Fluttershy who managed to find her voice first.

“What?”





“Everyone, please remain calm!” Mayor Mare shouted as the crowd continued to batter her with questions. “I know that you are all curious and concerned, but we need to keep a level head.”

“But where did that pony come from? I thought that there wasn’t a way to send you ponies back?” a trainer shouted.

“Maybe they lied, and were just trying to see if they could attack us!” another cried, and the mutterings of the crowd began to sour.

“Please, stop this!” Mayor Mare stamped her hooves in an effort to maintain control. “You’ve known us for ten years. Your government took us in, helped us build a new life. Regardless of what the future holds, know that we are as much citizens of your world as we are of Equestria.” The crowd’s muttering continued, though she could see that they were starting to calm down. “Now, I think that we all need to take some time to come to an understanding of how to proceed. Once I’ve contacted the Sinnoh Regional Government, I will hold a town meeting to keep everyone informed.”

The crowd was now nodding in agreement, their prior rancor fading fast, and before long began to disperse. After she was sure no hecklers remained she sighed in relief, turning to Pound, Pumpkin, and Cream. “Well, I am sorry that your special day didn’t go as planned, but I’m sure you’ve got a lot to prepare for. Normally you’d be leaving to start your journeys, but I’m sure you’d like to spend the day with your families. If I don’t see you before you leave, I wish you all the best of luck.” She hurriedly trotted into Town Hall and closed the door.

Pound stared at the pokeball in his hoof, mind racing. “Pumpkin… do you realize what this means?”

“We might be able to see Aunt Pinkie again!” she exclaimed, rearing in excitement. Her Chimchar grinned and sprang up onto her back, caught up in her enthusiasm.

“We might be able to see everypony again! And maybe we can even go there too…” he whispered, looking up at the swirling vortex of magic. “It’ll be interesting, that’s for sure. But come on, let’s go tell Mom and Dad the news!” The twins galloped off, Chimchar clinging for dear life as they sped past Big Mac.

He stared silently at the rift, muscles tight as he fought to move. Finally, he got to his hooves and turned away, toward the road out of town. “Sorry sis, gotta do this first.” He lunged into a gallop, the dirt flying up as ponies, people, and Pokemon wisely got out of his way.

The picket fence was a blur as he charged through the gate, skidding to a stop at the steps of the house. Breathing hard, he shook his hooves off and trotted inside, not bothering to mind his step. “Granny? You up?”

From the end of the hall, he heard her coughing. “Well, I am now, what with you trompin’ all across the floor and shoutin’ fit to wake the dead, boy! Now, come on in and tell me what’s got you all fired up. Cheerilee finally convince you to give me another great-grandfoal?”

Mac rolled his eyes as he entered her room, the machinery surrounding her bed droning on. “Not yet, Granny. We’ve still got our hooves full with Sprout, after all.” He glanced out the window at the small tree growing beside the house. “Tiny’s doing pretty good this year.”

“Don’t try to change the subject.” Granny shifted a bit, and Mac hurried over to help her sit upright. “You’re an Apple. If I could handle three of ya on my own, ain’t no reason you can’t handle more than one foal ‘twixt the two of you.”

“Are you sure you remember the right Sprout, Granny?” Mac teased. “Your memory ain’t what it used to be, I’d not be surprised you forgot your own great-granddaughter.”

“You hush now,” she snapped, thumping him on the shoulder with a hoof. “My memory’s just fine. I don't forget anypony, remember?” Her eyes fell for a moment.

“Aye, and that’s why I came home so fast,” Mac said, grinning despite himself. “Saw Princess Twilight today.”

Granny Smith’s ear flicked, and she shot Mac a glare. “Now that ain’t funny, Macintosh Apple. I raised you better than that.”

He shook his head. “I’m serious, Granny. Was out with the town watching the new round of Trainers get their first pokemon, then all of a sudden there’s a burst of magic, and Twilight comes walking out like she’d just forgotten the mail. Of course, she didn’t take too well to what she saw. From what she said, it's only been a week on their end of things. She started getting all technical, then went back through the rift, though it ain’t closed yet.”

“So wait just a moment, you’re telling me that our Princess Twilight created a portal to us, and it’s still open?”

“Uh-huh,” Mac replied with a nod.

“And if she can come on through, then other ponies could too?” she asked, a smile spreading on her face.

“I reckon so,” Mac said, his grin widening as he realized what she was getting at.

“Well don’t just stand there, get my bonnet and chair.” She turned her head toward the window. “Hey, Tiny! Gonna need you to get movin, I’m goin’ to town!”

Outside, the apple tree swayed as its bearer shook itself awake. “Tor…” the Torterra grumbled good-naturedly as he started to trundle around the house to the porch. He didn’t know what his trainer was so excited about, but supposed it didn’t matter. He would find out in good time.

“Oh, and Mac?” Granny Smith called out as he stopped in the doorway. “You best call your sister. Celestia knows she’ll be happy to hear the news.”

“Eeeyup,” Mac said, turning toward the phone on the wall. “She just might.”





Left alone on the stage, the rift swirled and hummed with the energy that had forced it open. On its own, it would have fizzled out and shut, potentially isolating the two dimensions forever. But Twilight, in her eagerness to find her lost home, had unwittingly begun to stabilize it.

Gradually, the crackle of magic subsided until only a slight distortion emanated from the edges, and the hum fell silent. The stabilizing rippled along the rift, spreading outward through causality and the connected dimensions of both worlds.

In a jagged space composed of frozen shards of time, a god stirred, red eyes glowing softly as the past and future twisted into new shapes.

In a flowing space forged from spheres of potential space, a god stirred, hissing as the harmonic resonance of the dimensions began to shatter.

In a chaotic space created from outlandish reflections of the other realms, a god stirred, twisting to avoid the billowing clouds of smoke that began to form.

And in a vast space formed from uncountable galaxies, a god stirred, the eighteen stars orbiting it pulsing brighter as it took notice of this new phenomenon in its creation.
> Far and Wide
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The trainers of the world might dismiss it as a pokemon barely worth catching to complete their pokedexes; but put a Bidoof against the wall and it fights as hard as any other. And right now, all this Bidoof could think of was how she should have gotten the rest of her poffin, instead of that upstart Aipom.

The two circled each other, the Aipom still grinning as he chewed the mouthful he had snatched. Finally he swallowed, hopping onto his tail with a snicker, and Bidoof had had enough. She started to charge forward, only for a yellow wall to interpose itself.

“Now I’ve had just about enough of this!” Apple Bloom shouted. “I swear, I turn my back on y’all for a minute and you’re already fightin’? What would your trainers think if they could see you now?”

The two pokemon stopped, expressions falling as they realized how they’d been behaving. The Bidoof scuffed at the ground with a paw, while the Aipom looked about ready to cry.

“Now now, no need to gettin’ all mopey about it,” Apple Bloom said, reaching into her saddlebag. She grabbed a pair of poffins and gave one to each of the pokemon. “There, now you each got your own.”

The Aipom looked down at the poffin, his prior melancholy banished by the sweet smell. He opened its mouth eagerly, but then hesitated, looking up to meet the Bidoof’s stare. “Ai?”

“Bidoof,” she replied with a huff, pushing her poffin toward Aipom. “Bi.”

Aipom looked glanced at it, grinned, and snatched it up. He reared back onto his tail, triumphantly holding both poffins. He ignored the pointed glare Apple Bloom was giving him before he tossed his poffin to the Bidoof. “Pom.”

“There, now that’s more like it,” Apple Bloom said firmly. “Y’all just keep on behavin’ now.” Once she was sure they would, she stretched and turned to check on the rest of the daycare. She’d worked it down to almost an art form: Make sure that the fire types hadn’t started another wildfire, that the rock types and ground types weren’t in another turf war, and that their ghost types hadn’t possessed any of the visitors. Plus making sure that everyone was fed and watered, and all the eggs got collected and properly tagged.

“Hey, Bloom!” a voice called from the main daycare building. “You have a phone call! I think it’s your brother!”

“Mac?” Apple Bloom asked as she got to her hooves. “Wonder what he wants.” She shrugged out of her saddlebag and set it on one of the tables. “I’m leavin’ this here, think y’all can keep an eye on it for me?”

The daycare’s resident Buizel climbed onto the table, nose twitching as he sniffed the bag. “Bui…” With a huff he stood upright and saluted. “Bui bui!”

Apple Bloom chuckled, “Knew you wouldn’t let me down, Buizel. I’ll be right back.” She trotted toward the door, a grin still tugging at her face.

“I swear, if anyone had told me before I hired you that Buizel’d be friends with someone other than his trainer, I’d have called ‘em a liar,” Robert Teigen, the daycare’s owner, remarked as he opened the door.

“Nah, I just keep paying him in treats is all,” Apple Bloom joked as she walked past. “Did Mac say what he wanted?”

“No, just that it was important,” he replied as the door swung shut. The pokemon watched for a few seconds, but when nothing happened they returned to their own means of passing the time.

“WHAT!” The shout practically shook the windows from their frames. All the pokemon stopped, staring at the building in shock. They’d heard Apple Bloom shout before, but this was something new. A further ruckus came from inside before she barreled out the door, vest hastily thrown on. She skidded to a stop next to the table, panting as she fought to get her breath back. “Buizel, you’re in charge while I’m gone. Help Mr. Teigen out, okay?”

Buizel hadn’t the foggiest notion of what was going on, but nodded anyway.

“I’ll be back soon as I can, Mr. Teigen, I promise!” Apple Bloom shouted as she jumped the fence surrounding the property, dust billowing behind her as she galloped down the road toward town.

He leaned against the doorway, laughing as she reached the main street. “Take your time, Bloom! Say hi to your grandmother for me!” He looked down at the herd of pokemon all staring after her and laughed harder. “Oh, relax you all. She’ll be back before you know it. I’ll just be taking care of you…” he blinked as the pokemon all turned to look at him curiously, “...all by myself.”

Buizel stretched as tall as he could, watching Apple Bloom until she rounded the corner and was gone. He grumbled and kicked at the bag of treats irritably. Sure, she wasn’t his trainer, but they were still friends—… well, acquaintances. In any case, Apple Bloom had left him in charge, and he wasn’t one to go back on his promises. He turned, scowling as he glared at Mr. Teigen. However, there were going to be some changes made first.

“Now Buizel, don’t give me that look. We did just fine before Apple Bloom, no need to… please put that down… please?”





“And let’s put our hands together for that spectacular performance from Wallace and his Milotic! This year’s Wallace Cup, held once again at the beautiful Lake Valor, promises to be a truly special event, with the crowd eagerly anticipating the performance of the Sinnoh region’s one and only Sweetie Belle! She’s stolen our hearts in the past with her unique Contest style, but the bar remains high and all of this year’s contestants are hungry to strut their stuff! The first round of Contests will begin soon, so I hope you’re all ready!”

Sweetie turned the TV off with a pulse of magic as she turned to face her pokemon. “Alright, we’ve practiced the routine so much I’ve caught you two performing it in your sleep. I know you have it in you to come together to make this show work. You feeling up to it?”

Espeon and Umbreon nodded, eyes bright as they thought through their parts in the routine one more time. The two looked almost the opposite of each other, bright pink clashing with coal black; and psychic strength versus dark, but with luck that would only enhance the performance.

“Great! Just let me get into my outfit, and we’ll be all set!” Sweetie trotted toward the bed, levitating her costume into its different pieces.

“Um, Miss Belle?” One of the contest volunteers leaned in, a phone in his hand. “You have a phone call, can you take it?”

“Who is it?” she asked, settling her dress over her head.

“She said her name was Apple Bloom, seemed like it was urgent?”

“Sure, I’ll take it.” Sweetie grabbed the phone and floated it over. “Apple Bloom?”

“Heya Sweetie Belle!” came the inevitable shout. “You got a sec?”

“Sort of, I’m getting ready to go onstage. Remember, today’s the Wallace Cup?”

Sweetie heard Apple Bloom’s sigh, along with a number of other people’s voices in the background. “Right, sorry, totally skipped my mind. But listen, I got something to tell you—”

“Train 374 to Ponyville is now boarding, please collect your belongings and have your ticket ready,” an automated voice called in the background.

“Apple Bloom, why are you at the train station? I thought you’d finished moving to Solaceon?” Sweetie asked.

“Just hold on, I’ll explain. I got a call from Big Mac today.”

“Five minutes, Miss Belle,” the volunteer reminded her.

“Apple Bloom, can this wait? It’s almost time for my performance—”

“Just wait a minute, this is important. Sweetie, they found us. Equestria, I mean.”

To her credit, she didn’t drop the phone. The rest of her costume wasn’t so lucky. “What?” Espeon and Umbreon looked up at the change in her tone, tails lashing nervously.

“I’m serious, Sweetie. They were giving out new pokemon when Princess Twilight just showed up on stage. He says there’s some kind of portal or something, didn’t catch quite all the details, but I’m headin’ home right now. I was hoping to get the old gang together, but can’t remember Scootaloo’s number. Think you can—”

Sweetie Belle didn’t catch the rest, the phone clattering as it fell to the floor. Staring blankly at the wall, she forced herself to remember to breathe as she wrestled with what she’d just heard.

“Is… everything alright, Miss?” the volunteer asked.

“Y-yeah…” Sweetie murmured, eyes still unfocused. “Just… need to…” She shook her head, expression now determined. “Sorry, but I’m not going to be able to perform! Can you tell the Contest organizers I’m really sorry, but that something came up?” She wheeled about, horn glowing as she started to levitate her costume into its bag.

The volunteer, Espeon, and Umbreon could have posed as synchronised actors, their shocked expressions were so alike. “But, but I can’t just go tell Wallace himself—”

“Oh, you’ll be fine. Wallace’ll understand, but if the other judges get cranky, just tell them it’s a family emergency.” Sweetie zipped up the bag, recalled her pokemon, and picked up the phone. “Though I do need to borrow this for a bit longer. Hopefully this time she left her ringer on.”





“Well, you definitely got his attention now, Scoots,” Scootaloo muttered to herself, scrunching lower behind the rock as another wave of fire washed over it. “Just had to go and egg him on, didn’t you?”

The wall of flames finally died down and she risked a glance out from behind it. She could see her target, still stubbornly out in the open where it could see any attack coming. It spotted her and snarled with a gout of blue-white fire.

“Come on, Charmeleon, I know you’re better than that!” Scootaloo shouted as she ducked back behind the rock, another torrent of fire scorching the space her head had occupied. “Okay, maybe taunting the angry, fire-breathing lizard wasn’t the best plan, but at least he’s not getting bored.” She glanced at the five pokeballs hanging from her vest. “Hmm, can’t use most of these, he’ll blast them before they can get three steps from cover…” She grinned as she came to the last one. “Now she might stand a chance.” She grabbed it and tapped the button to release its contents.

Thankfully, the burst of light wasn’t too bright given the sunlight shining down, but she’d tangled with this Charmeleon enough to know he’d notice. It resolved into the spiky shape of her Jolteon and she rubbed its head affectionately. “Hey there, Bolt. Got myself in a bit of a bind, and need your help.”

“Jolteon?” Bolt asked, nose wrinkling at the smell of seared rock and burning grass. “Jolt…” She shook her head in resignation

“Yeah yeah, laugh it up,” Scootaloo replied, rolling her eyes. “But do it after we beat him. I’ve got a plan.”

Bolt tilted her head, then nosed at another of Scootaloo’s pokeballs.

“No, he’s not gonna be much help.” Scootaloo smiled sheepishly. “Tried to use him to surprise Charmeleon from behind, but he wasn’t quick enough.”

“Jolt?” Bolt asked, ears quivering in shock.

“Hey, in his defense, I didn’t expect Charmeleon to throw fire spin at us using his tail either,” Scootaloo retorted. “Look, I just need you to use your agility, then hit him with thunder fang. That ought to do the trick.”

Bolt remained silent, staring at her with a combination of incredulity and shock.

Scootaloo started to ask her what the problem was, but suddenly noticed the increasing temperature and groaned. “He’s right behind us, isn’t he?”

Bolt nodded slightly, fur standing up straighter.

“Char…” Charmeleon growled as he climbed atop the rock, more blue flames dripping from his mouth. He inhaled, the air around him wavering as he built up the fire in his throat—

”We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders~!

Charmeleon stared at Scootaloo, flames still dancing around his mouth as the phone continued to blare the song. He hiccuped a small burst of fire as he started to snicker. The snickering quickly grew into full-fledged laughter, his claws losing their grip and sending him tumbling to the ground. Flames belched skyward as he lost his concentration, clutching his sides as the last of the stored-up fire dissipated.

“Oh, shut up,” Scootaloo muttered as she got to her hooves. “It’s an awesome ringtone and you know it.” She whipped her head around as she heard a second snickering. “Don’t you take his side, Bolt!”

Bolt tried in vain to cover her giggles with a paw, but gave up and fell onto her side. Stray sparks of electricity danced across her fur as she joined in the laughter.

Scootaloo fumed in frustration and grabbed the Jolteon’s pokeball. “Oh alright then, guess trying to go on is a moot point. Bolt, take five.” She recalled the pokemon in a burst of red light and turned to the laughing Charmeleon. “Now as for you, mister trigger-happy, what was the deal with that one flamethrower? You nearly took my head off.” She couldn’t maintain the scowl and grinned. “Not to say it wasn’t impressive, you’re definitely getting better with your snap-firing.”

Charmeleon rolled to his feet with one last wheeze of laughter, before the phone’s continued ringing caught his attention. “Char?” He pointed at her vest pocket.

“Oh, right. Rest up a bit, then we’ll pick up the training again.” Scootaloo sat down and dug the phone out. Flipping it open, she smiled as she saw Sweetie Belle’s picture. “Heya Sweetie Belle, what’s up?”

“Glad you decided to pick up this time, Scootaloo.” Sweetie’s voice practically dripped sarcasm.

“Hey, don’t blame me. The reception out here at Blackthorn is crummy, you know that.” Scootaloo protested.

“Right… and I suppose those new cell towers they talked about on the news last month that ensure global coverage are totally made up,” she replied. “But anyway, you’re still in Blackthorn? I’d have thought you would have moved on by now.”

“Yeah, we’re still trying to make some progress with Charmeleon,” she said, glancing his way to see if he’d heard her. Thankfully, he didn’t give any indication and she turned away from him. “Just can’t seem to work past whatever block is in his head.”

“Still? I figured if anyone could get him to evolve it’d be you.”

“Well, you know how it goes sometimes. We’ll get there eventually, he’s certainly eager enough. Anyway, what’s up?” Scootaloo hopped up onto one of the flat rocks around the impromptu training area, kicking a charred clump of grass out of her way. “How’d the Wallace Cup go, or have you still not competed? I knew that was gonna be happening sometime soon.”

“About that… I had to quit. Something came up in Ponyville,” she replied, almost sounding… nervous? Excited?

“Wait, what? What’s going on in Ponyville? Your parents okay?”

“Yeah, they’re fine.”

“There’s not been another Wurmple infestation, has there?”

“Noooo…” Sweetie’s voice was definitely leaning toward excited now. “Want to keep guessing?”

Scootaloo sighed and facehoofed. “Just tell me, Sweetie.”

“Okay, I got a call from Apple Bloom, who got a call from Big Mac, who was apparently at the new Trainer presentation ceremony, when none other than Princess Twilight shows up on stage! Opened up this portal right from Equestria and everything! Apple Bloom says Mac told her that it’s still open, too!” Sweetie finished her explanation in a rush, breathing hard.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Yeah right. If the rest of Equestria was going to find us, they’d have done it a long time ago, Sweetie. I think Apple Bloom’s just pulling your leg.”

“Oh come on, Scoots. At the very least, it’s a chance for us to catch up. It’s been three years since you left for Johto. Even Apple Bloom comes home once in a while.”

Scootaloo paused at that. Sweetie Belle did have a point, and a chance to let her pokemon see her home might not be such a bad idea. And she couldn’t deny a small part of her was starting to hope that Sweetie Belle was right about Equestria finding them. She glanced at Charmeleon, who was idly poking at a scorched rock, and made up her mind. “You know what, why not? I’ll catch a lift on Dragonite, should be back home in a couple hours if the wind’s good.”

“Awesome! Hope your flight goes well!” Sweetie said happily before the phone went dead.

“Alright Charmeleon, we’re taking a bit of a vacation for now.” Scootaloo grabbed his pokeball from the vest.

He scowled, growling as he felt the light consume him, the world fading until the expected confines of the pokeball wrapped itself around him. He didn’t hate being inside the ball, but the loss of his senses was always uncomfortable for the first few minutes.

Scootaloo held the ball for a moment, before attaching it and retrieving another. “Don’t worry, I promised to help you evolve, and I intend to keep it. I don’t let my friends down,” she muttered, the last part coming out harsher than she’d intended. “Okay Dragonite, come on out.”

Dragonite yawned as the light of her materialization faded, before frowning at the charred landscape. She warbled and bent down, claws gentle as she straightened a flower and brushed the ash from its petals.

“I know, I know,” Scootaloo said as she trotted forward, pulling a tangle of straps and buckles from her bag. “But look at it this way. There weren’t any Pokemon making their homes here, and what little vegetation we messed up will grow back before long.”

Dragonite rolled her eyes, warbling again as she started to help Scootaloo untangle the harness.

“Yeah, we’re gonna be taking a bit of a longer distance flight, definitely can’t make it on my own. Think you can make it back to Ponyville before sunset?” Scootaloo asked, an eyebrow raised.

Dragonite put a claw to her heart, a mocking expression of hurt on her face. She took the harness from Scootaloo and settled it across her back. She flapped her wings a few times, a cloud of dust stirring as she tested the fit and smiled.

Scootaloo nodded and reached into her vest pocket, pulling out a well-worn set of flying goggles. She made sure they were clean before she put them on, pausing to rub the faded Wonderbolts emblem on the side. "Okay, all set." She spread her wings and flap-hopped into position, sliding her legs into the harness rings. “You ready to go?”

Dragonite was quiet as she adjusted the straps, careful to make sure Scootaloo was secured. She then glanced over her shoulder with a grin, spreading her wings wide. She flapped once, lifting off the ground in another burst of dust, and brought her wings up for the second flap. Scootaloo braced herself in anticipation as she felt the muscles in Dragonite’s back flex.

Dragonite hung in the air for another second, eyes closed in concentration. Then, on some internal signal, she snapped her gaze skyward and flapped the second time. In a titanic cloud of dust and dirt, she rocketed into the air, angling toward the north.
> Sought
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Twilight, that doesn’t make any sense,” Rainbow Dash blurted with a scowl. “I mean, sure I can get Ponyville being somewhere else, and even it being ten years on their side. But if that’s how it is, then how are you not ten years older?”

“Well, if I had to guess, it’d probably be that this rift maintains some form of link between our world and wherever Ponyville ended up. So instead of me moving completely from Equestria to Ponyville, the temporal divide is accounted for.” Twilight tapped a hoof in thought. “I’d need to gather more information before making a solid theory, though.”

“You could always jump back through the rift,” Discord suggested, putting his arms up defensively as everypony glared at him. “What? I’m just spitballing here.” He threw his arms up in surrender. “Fine, fine. I can see when I’m not wanted. If you need me, I’ll be in the drawing room.” He pulled open a drawer, a white light emanating from inside, and crawled in. A muffled “No, you’re not going to start that song again,” could be heard before the lid slammed shut.

Celestia cleared her throat. “Well, in any case, perhaps we should move to one of the ambassador’s waiting rooms. You’ll have some privacy, Luna and I can inform everypony who needs to know about this, and we’ll begin planning our next course of action. I do promise that you will be informed of the decisions as they are made.”

Twilight blinked, snapping out of her train of thought. “You’re right, Celestia. No sense doing anything without a plan first. Come on girls, we’ve got work to do.”

With a nod, Celestia led the group out into the hallway. However, Applejack remained, staring into the swirling depths of the rift. Her hoof slowly lifted, shaking slightly as she started to force it forward.

“Applejack, come on!” Pinkie chirped suddenly from beside her. “We need to talk with the girls before we go jumping into anything, remember?”

“R-right. Sure thing, Pinkie,” Applejack replied, giving the portal one more glance as she left the room.

At the front of the group, Luna leaned in toward her sister. “Celestia, I know that look in your eye,” she chided softly. “But this isn’t something we can just let Twilight and her friends handle on their own. We are the rulers of Equestria, and cannot be entrusting the fate of the land to six mares time and again.”

Celestia smiled. “You might be right. But they’ve faced dozens of things over the past few years they shouldn’t have. Things just worked out so that they had to. And given their track record, I’d feel perfectly safe putting Equestria in their hooves once again.”

“I do hope you’re right, sister,” Luna muttered as they continued down the corridor.

“Don’t worry so much, Luna.” Celestia turned to one of the guards escorting them. “Captain Shield, if I could trouble you to inform the general staff to meet us in the council room? I will also require the immediate convening of the Council.”

The guardpony saluted, “As you command, Princess.” He broke into a canter and hurried down a side corridor.

“Oh, and Captain!” Celestia called after him, “Please send word to Princess Cadance and Prince Armor! I would request their attendance as well!”

Shield saluted again as he rounded the corner.

Luna eyed Celestia as they continued walking. “So what game are you playing, Celestia?”

She sighed. “The same one as always, Luna.” Brightening as their destination came into view, she ushered everypony into one of the diplomatic apartments. “This will do nicely for the time being. Lieutenant Kicker, if you would be so kind as to have the kitchen staff prepare some food and drink? I suspect we’ll be up for some time yet tonight.”

“Of course, your Majesty,” she saluted, hurrying off down the corridor.

“Okay, so that takes care of that,” Celestia muttered, eyes half-closed in thought. “Anything I missed? No, not for now.” She turned to face the rest of the group. “While I know you still have questions, I’m afraid Luna and I have some things we need to attend to. I’ll station some guards outside the door, let them know if you need anything else.” She nodded to Luna, and together the two Princesses left, the door closing behind them.





Twilight frowned as she chased peas around her plate, absently corralling them against a carrot. Despite combing her brain nonstop for the past hour, nothing she could think of presented itself as a viable solution. From the expressions on her friend’s faces, none of them had any clue on what to do either. Rarity and Rainbow Dash were both silent, staring vacantly at their plates, while Pinkie Pie at least kept up a smile. Of her friends, it was Fluttershy who worried Twilight the most, as she seemed to swing back and forth between a hopeful grin and worried muttering.

The awkward silence was broken as Applejack set down her spoon. “Okay y’all, so when are we going?”

“Excuse me?” Rarity asked.

“What?” Twilight gasped at the same time.

“You heard me,” Applejack replied firmly. “My family’s on the other side of that portal, and I’m going through for ‘em.”

“Applejack, I know how you feel, but we can’t just go rushing into this,” Twilight shot back. “We just need to account for all the variables before we can figure out a course of action—”

“I really don’t think you know how I feel, Twi,” Applejack replied firmly. “You lucked out, having your family all here in Canterlot when that whatever-it-was took our home.”

Twilight rocked back as if slapped, ears flat as Applejack’s retort echoed in the silence that fell over the room. Her eyes started to water, but with a short breath she managed to keep her composure. “Applejack, sometimes I wish you’d think before you opened your mouth.” She took another breath to steady herself and met Applejack’s glare. “I may not have lived in Ponyville as long as you, but they’re still family to me.”

For another second, Applejack’s glare held, but was rapidly replaced by shock and sorrow. Her hostile posture evaporated and she fell to her haunches. “Twi… I’m sorry. You’re right, I should have thought first.”

“You should have,” Twilight said, though her rancor was similarly fading. “I’m just glad Spike was in the Empire visiting Shining.” She sniffed hard, the tears returning. Through the watery haze, she could see AJ trot forward, hooves gripping her in a crushing hug as everypony joined in.

“Don’t worry, Twi. We’ll find ‘em all, I promise.” Applejack whispered.

Twilight nodded silently, a few tears escaping down her cheeks. “I know.” Finally, she broke from the hug and wiped her eyes. “Alright, let’s make a plan.” She cleared some of the dishes off the table. “Anypony have something to write with?” She turned, a half-giggle escaping as Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy both had one of their feathers between their teeth. “I guess I could have used one of my own, come to think of it.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes and set the feather on the table. “Yeah yeah, I’ll cover you this time. Now, you said something about creatures over there. What was that all about?”

“Right.” Twilight lifted the feather, a flash of light surrounding the tip as she transmuted it to coal. “I didn’t get a solid look, but here’s what some of them looked like. There were also a couple new buildings I didn’t recognize either…”

The others crowded in close as the feather darted back and forth, their expressions becoming more determined as a plan started to take shape.





Flash Sentry paused at the junction to make sure the letter remained tucked under his wing. Around him, the castle staff hurried to and fro, still somewhat on edge from the rumors of Ponyville’s disappearance. Thus far there hadn’t been any actual panic, but he’d discreetly taken steps to increase the Empire’s readiness. The crystal guards were eager, but being lost in time for a thousand years had dulled their edge, and he and Captain Armor were still drilling them into a modern, effective force.

Prince Armor, he reminded himself as he started down the corridor to the Royal Chambers. Although, from their conversations, he could tell plain as day that Shining missed being in direct command. He still held the rank, though now he had a snowball’s chance in Tartarus of being in the front line.

The massive door loomed before him and he stopped to let the chime from his hooves fade. He carefully rapped on the delicate crystal, keen to not damage the craftwork again.

“Yes, what is it?” Cadance’s voice answered. The door glimmered as her magic swung it open. Inside, Cadance sat at her desk, a large book sprawled across it. “Oh, hello Flash, what is it?”

“Your Majesty, there’s a letter from Equestria,” Flash reached under his wing and held out the scroll. “High priority, for yourself and Prince Armor only.”

Cadance frowned and levitated the letter over. “High priority? I wonder what’s happened now…” she mused as she dispelled the security on the scroll. Her eyes flicked as she scanned the letter, only for her to gasp and re-read it. “This… this is wonderful news! Flash, where’s Shining?”

“He should still be at the library with the dragon,” Flash replied, stepping to the side as Cadance jumped to her hooves, practically galloping into the hallway.

“Come on, we have to tell him this! Spike too, he’s going to be so excited!” Cadance lit her horn as she concentrated her power. The walls of the palace seemed to glow in sympathy, hard-edged wisps of force emerging to dance around her.

Flash gritted his teeth as reality started to fold, vision starting to fracture as his body creased in on itself. His insides lurched as the teleport finished almost before it started, the Crystal Library’s atrium unfolding around him.

The sudden appearance of their princess was still novel enough to cause every pony in sight range to drop to their knees in a bow, the librarian smiling nervously. “Your Majesty, you should have sent word, we could have prepared—”

Cadance returned the smile, beaming as she shook remnants of energy off her feathers. “Oh, it’s quite alright, Agatha. I assume my husband is still in the restricted wing?”

“Yes, he and the dragon both. I’d actually just had some lunch brought in; if you’d like I could get some more sent up,” Agatha offered, her smile strengthening.

“That sounds wonderful, thank you,” Cadance replied. She inclined her head as Agatha bowed once more, and as the librarian hurried off, started around the desk toward the back of the library.

Flash followed her, still awestruck by the scale of the structure as they passed through archway after archway. It certainly didn’t rival the Canterlot Archives in size, but the age of the building made it its equal. Rows upon rows of shelves crowded together, laden with books whose titles he couldn’t even hope to read.

He blinked as Cadance increased her pace, passing through an archway with a pair of crystal guards at attention. Hurrying after her, he nearly tripped over a book carelessly abandoned on the floor. He set it on a nearby table as Cadance embraced her husband at the central table. A stack of books sat beside him, though beyond him was a practical mountain of tomes and scrolls.

“How’re things going, Shining?” she asked, eying the tower. “You and Spike making some progress?”

Shining sighed and closed the book in front of him. “Well, Spike is, anyway. Every time I look over, he’s added another ten books to the pile. Twily’s definitely rubbed off on him, caught him trying to read two books at once a couple times.”

“Hey, it’s not my fault you read slow,” a muffled voice called out from inside the impromptu fortress. Spike poked his head over the edge. “Oh, hi Cadance.” His scales were dulled, a few edges beginning to crack and peel from inattention. His face was no better, exhaustion combined with disappointment creasing his normally happy features.

“Hey Spike, how are you holding up?” Cadance levitated him down to the floor. “You’re remembering to eat, hopefully.”

“Yeah yeah,” he muttered. “Anyway, what brings you by? Much as I’d like to chat, I’ve still got a ton of research to compile. Twilight’s gonna need as much information as we can find if we’re gonna get Ponyville back.”

Cadance beamed. “Well, that’s actually what brings me by. See, I got a letter from Twilight…” She opened the letter and gave it to Spike, whose dour expression gradually grew to ecstatic.

“She really did it. Not that I doubted her or anything,” he added hurriedly. He read on, a bemused frown crossing his features. “Can’t believe I worked my tail off researching, only to get upstaged by Discord. I’m her assistant, for crying out loud. Cheating chaos magic…” he grumbled as he folded the letter and handed it back to Cadance.

Shining set down his book. “So, we’re going?”

“Yes. Celestia wants all four of us present so we can make a joint appearance once we establish formal contact with whatever authority’s on the other side of the rift.” Cadance glanced back toward Spike. “And I’m sure you and your friends’ll have lots of catching up to do—” she blinked at the empty space Spike had occupied, only to catch the end of his tail as he rounded the corner. “Spike, slow down!”

“I gotta pack first! Can’t waste time!” he shouted back.

Flash coughed quietly. “I’ll ensure he’s prepared and meet you at the train station, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you, Flash.” Cadance replied with a smile.

“And notify the watch captain we’ll need an honour guard for the trip,” Shining added.

Flash saluted, then took off in a hurry after Spike.

“Come on, Shining, we better get packed too. Celestia didn’t mention anything in her letter, but you know how your sister can get. Ponyville’s her home, almost more than Canterlot is. If she hasn’t already, I’d be willing to bet she’s making plans to go.” Cadance lit her horn, space starting to fold with her teleport.

“Oh believe me, I know,” Shining snorted as they vanished.





The guard’s hornlight cast uneven shadows as he walked his path in front of the door. He wasn’t entirely sure why Lieutenant Kicker wanted this door guarded, but orders were orders. This wing of the castle never got that much traffic anyway, except for the occasional late night researcher.

The castle at night really took on a new character once the sun had gone down. Sure, the shadows were everywhere and certainly creeped one out from time to time; but he’d always liked how the moon- and starlight reflected everywhere. Really, once your eyes adjusted, it wasn’t even that dark—

His rambling train of thought was interrupted as a faint breeze whispered through the hallway. Pausing, his nostrils flared and ears flicked, gauging the source of the wind. Judging it to be coming from the next corridor, he cautiously approached and readied a stun spell just in case. Taking a deep breath, he sprang around the corner. “Halt, who goes there— ARGH!”

His vision went white and he fired the stun spell on instinct, vainly throwing up a hoof to shield his eyes. Stumbling backwards, he sat down hard and blinked as things swam back into focus.

The empty hallway greeted him, a stray beam of moonlight reflecting off a statue of a guard. Sighing sheepishly, he thanked his lucky stars he hadn’t broken anything with that spell, and clambered back to his hooves to resume his patrol.

“Have I ever told you that you scare me sometimes, Twilight?” Applejack asked as the guard, a goofy smile on his muzzle, drunkenly turned about and marched back the way he’d came.

“Oh, it’s nothing serious, just a minor compulsion and a slight mental adjustment,” Twilight replied, before her ears drooped. “Well, I suppose that is a little creepy…”

“Yeah, but it was cool!” Pinkie exclaimed as she waved her hooves excitedly in front of the guard’s face, while he obliviously continued marching forward.

“Pinkie! Don’t antagonize him,” Rarity whispered, adjusting her mane. “I’m just glad he missed with that spell.”

“And you’re sure he’ll be okay?” Fluttershy asked as she glanced back at the guard.

“Yes yes, once the spell wears off he’ll be fine. A minor headache at worst,” Twilight replied matter of factly, only to wince as he walked straight into the wall with a metallic thud. “Well, maybe more than a minor headache, but still. Anyway, let’s hurry, girls.”

Together, the six hurried past the guard and into the room. The portal remained open, lighting the room with its glow. Trailing streams of light and force rippled from the edges, occasionally disturbing some of the pages on the nearby tables.

Twilight frowned as she walked towards it. “Wait, something’s not right.” She watched as a particularly fat discharge drifted toward the floor. “The rift seems to be even more stable than before. But that doesn’t make any sense, I stopped my spell after stabilizing it in Ponyville…”

“So what do we do, Twilight?” Fluttershy whispered, “Go back?” She started to take a step back, only to jump as Applejack stamped a hoof.

“Nuts to that. I say we go for it. Hay, we’ve come this far already.”

“I’m with AJ, let’s do this.” Rainbow defiantly stuck a hoof into the portal, only shivering a little as the energies played over her leg. “Okay, that definitely feels weird.”

“Relax, just keep moving forward and you’ll do fine,” Twilight said as she led the way in. Everypony else followed after her, though Fluttershy needed some coaxing from Pinkie. The flashes of light were briefly noticeable from the hallway, but the guard continued bumping into the wall and failed to react.

As the room returned to normal, two shadows peeled free of the corners and ceiling. One spoke quietly into a gemstone embedded in his peytral, “The birds have left the nest. Repeat, the birds are out of the nest, please advise.”

“Oh come on, Dusk. Do you really have to use that phrase?” the other shadow asked, the batpony ruffling her wings irritably as the last of the shadowstuff fell off. “It’s cheesy and sounds downright childish.”

“Shut up Eclipse, you know you just wanted to say it,” Dusk replied with a snort.

“Maybe, but that doesn’t change that it sounds childish coming from you,” she said and haughtily flicked her ears.

“In any case, we need to report this, as per Lady Luna’s instructions.” Dusk spread his wings and took off in a glide through the doorway.

“What do we do about him?” Eclipse asked, pointing at the still-bewitched guard, still stubbornly bumping into the wall. “I think he’s gonna beat the wall at this rate.”

“We leave him, the watch center’ll be sending reinforcements any minute now,” Dusk flew upward, drawing the darkness back in as he melted into the ceiling’s shadows.

Eclipse hesitated a second, then turned the guard around, pointing him down the hallway. “There, you owe me one.” She hurriedly took off as the distant echo of galloping hooves made themselves known.

The guard confidently set out on his new course, goofy smile still fixed on his face, the moonlight bright as it shone through the window at the end of the hall…
> Long Time
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was like walking underwater, Fluttershy decided. The energies of the rift swirled around her, mane waving like Celestia’s, as she put one hoof in front of the other. Ahead of her, Applejack helped Rarity keep her hooves under her, while Pinkie brought up the rear. Twilight was at the front, head down as she kept the worst of the wild magic at bay.

Rainbow Dash followed immediately behind Twilight, ears flat and eyes set in determination. She scowled, the temptation to take the lead gnawing at the back of her mind. She reminded herself that Twilight knew what she was doing, and they’d make it through if they took their time. ’Just a little more,’ she thought to herself, ’and we’ll find ‘em. Everypony, you better be okay.’ She repeated the little mantra over and over, trying to ignore the itching in her hooves and wings.

“Rainbow, did you say something?” Rarity asked, and Rainbow realized that she’d started muttering aloud.

“Just… a little worried. Not a lot, because I know everyone’s okay, but still…” Rainbow trailed off, ears flicking.

“I know, dear,” Rarity replied, bumping a shoulder against Rainbow’s. “We’ll see them all, and everything will be just fine, you’ll see.” She tried to sound upbeat, but a note of her own desperation crept in.

“Now don’t you two get started,” Applejack said firmly. She moved up between the two, giving each of them a pointed look. “Twilight’s been there, the town is safe, and if I know Apple Bloom, she’ll be ready and waitin’. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo too.”

Rarity and Rainbow nodded, their nervousness fading, and together the three pushed onward.

Twilight closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she kept her magic up and searching for the exit aperture. The tunnel of the rift pulsed around her, but for some reason it felt even more stable than when she’d made the trip home. “Everypony okay so far?”

“Sure am, Twilight!” Pinkie chirped. “Though that big floating snakey dragon thing keeps looking at me funny.” She tilted her head at a portion of the tunnel wall that gleamed like a mirror. “Wonder what he’s thinking?”

“Wait, what?” Twilight practically shoved past the others, peering into the reflective surface. Strange, half-formed buildings floated in an inverted, endless plane, but she couldn’t see anything. “What did you see, Pinkie?”

“I dunno, but he was big and pointy and with a bunch of squiggly tentacles coming out of his back!” She peered through the opening with a frown. “Aw, where’d he go?”

“If you say so…” Twilight replied, disbelief plain in her voice as she returned to the front of the group. She squinted as the tunnel ahead of them flashed white. “There’s the exit, let’s hurry!”

“But I really did see him!” Pinkie pouted as everypony started moving forward. “Oh well, I’ll see you later maybe bye!” she shouted into the opening before hurrying after the others.

After Pinkie was out of sight, Giratina let its distortion field slip, eyes glowing as it floated closer. The tunnel still reeked of unknown energy, and it hissed as its aura was rejected. For now, it still couldn’t enter the rift, or the world that lay beyond. But gradually, it was adapting. It could feel its sibling’s energies doing the same as this new world blended more with theirs.





Apple Bloom pressed against the window as the train started to decelerate. “I can see the farm, Sweetie! We’re almost there!”

Sweetie laughed. “I did happen to hear the conductor when he announced we were almost there, AB.” She settled her saddlebag over her back and stretched. “You going to go see Mac and Granny first?”

“Yeah, haven’t visited in…” she thought for a second, “three years? Has it really been that long?”

“I guess so,” Sweetie mused. “Well, we’re here now, at least.”

The train lurched slightly as it came to a stop and Apple Bloom beamed. “Come on, I’ve been looking forward to this!” She threw her saddlebag on and took off at a gallop, dodging other passengers as she jumped through the door onto the platform.

“Sorry about that,” Sweetie said as she made her way down the aisle, “she just forgets her manners sometimes.” She squinted as she stepped off the train, taking a deep breath as the familiar smell of home washed over her. “Ah, it’s good to be back.”

“Hey Sweetie, you want to come to the farm with me?” Apple Bloom asked, ears flicking with her excitement. “I’m sure we could whip up an extra spot at the table for lunch.”

Sweetie Belle shook her head. “Nah, I was going to go see my mom and dad. We all want to be together when Rarity comes.”

“And you’re sure that they’ll come to our side?”

“Well, why wouldn’t they? Knowing them, everypony’ll be chomping at the bit to come see us!” Sweetie replied as the pair made their way off the platform and down the street. The town was just starting to wake up, ponies trotting to and fro, with only an occasional human to break up the riot of color. “It’s weird, being back among ponies again,” she remarked. “And even weirder that I’m saying it.”

Apple Bloom laughed, “I know the feeling.”

“Apple Bloom! Sweetie Belle! You’re back!” A voice shouted from behind them. As they turned around, a pair of pony-shaped missiles hurtled into their chests, while hooves fastened around their necks in crushing hugs.

Apple Bloom laughed and noogied her assailant. “Well hey there, Pumpkin! You’ve gotten awful big since the last time I saw ya! Just what are your parents feeding you?”

Pumpkin rolled her eyes and released her hug. “Nothing special; just good old Ponyville food. Maybe you ought to stick around and have some, I think you’ve gotten shorter.”

Sweetie Belle in the meantime hugged Pound Cake firmly. “It’s so good to see you two! I still remember when you were begging your parents to let us foalsit you.” She released the hug and beamed at the twins.

“Yeah, town’s been really quiet without you three breaking something every other week,” Pound replied with a grin, though that was quickly replaced by curiosity. “Wait, where’s Scootaloo?”

Apple Bloom glanced up, “Knowing her, probably still over the ocean with Dragonite. Shouldn’t be too much longer though. At least we’ll know when she shows up, those two like to make an entrance.” she looked back down, and her eyes brightened as she spotted the pokeball hanging from Pound’s vest. “So you got your startin’ Pokemon, I take it?”

Pound blinked, then grinned wider. “Oh yeah!” The grin shrank a bit as he dug at the ground with a hoof. “Though, I kind of overslept, so had to pick last and got Turtwig…”

Apple Bloom scowled good-naturedly. “Now don’t go puttin’ down Turtwigs, they’ll surprise you. I know mine pulled my hide out of the fire on more than one battle.”

“Looks like you called that one, Apple Bloom.” Sweetie Belle glanced at Pumpkin. “So who’d you pick then? Me, Bloom, and Scootaloo were all taking bets on who you and Pound would end up choosing…”

Pumpkin beamed, grabbing her pokeball. “I went with Chimchar!” She tapped the release, and Chimchar appeared in a blaze of light. Blinking at the two new ponies in front of him, he scrambled atop Pumpkin’s back to get a better vantage point.

“Dangit, I could have sworn you’d have taken Piplup,” Apple Bloom muttered. “Scoots isn’t gonna let us hear the end of it.”

Pumpkin’s eyes suddenly brightened. “Hey, I have an idea!”

Pound snorted, “Oh boy, here we go…”

Pumpkin glared at him, then continued with an eager grin, “Since we’re all trainers now, we should have a battle! You and Sweetie Belle against me and my brother!”

Several ponies passing by on the street stopped, muttering in surprise as they recognized Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. A couple hurried off excitedly, while other ponies began to wander closer, attracted by the shouting.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie glanced at each other. “Are you sure?” Sweetie asked. “Apple Bloom and I are experienced trainers after all, and our pokemon are pretty strong. It’ll be tough for your pokemon right out of the gate to fight against them.”

“She does raise a pretty good point, sis,” Pound said.

Pumpkin frowned. “Well, I… guess that makes sense, but—”

“Tell you what though,” Apple Bloom interrupted. “How about instead of you two battlin’ us, you watch me and Sweetie have at it.” She grinned at Sweetie. “Besides, I’ve been wonderin’ just how strong your Empoleon’s gotten since I last saw him.”

“Are you sure, Bloom?” Sweetie asked with a sly smile. “You do remember the thrashing we gave you last time.”

Apple Bloom tossed her head. “Oh, we remember.” She grabbed a pokeball off her vest. “Torterra, let’s show Sweetie just how much we remember.” She tossed the ball skyward, and shot Pound and Pumpkin a glance. “I’d back up a bit if I were you.”

The pokeball opened in a blaze of white light, materializing into the form of a massive tortoise. The last thing to take shape as the light faded and gravity reasserted its hold was an apple tree, fresh in bloom. The ground shook as Torterra landed squarely on her feet, shaking her head to clear the dust. She saw Sweetie Belle, and a spark of recognition ignited in her red eyes. “Torterra!” she bellowed in challenge, digging at the ground with a foot.

The crashing impact reached practically throughout the town; ponies, humans and wild pokemon alike starting to make their way toward the disturbance. Many of the older crowd recognized Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle from their time before leaving on their journeys, while the younger onlookers realized the famous trainers from their TV sets were about to battle right in front of them.

Sweetie Belle sighed, grinning as she levitated her pokeball from its hanger. “Alright, if you insist. Come on Empoleon, it’s time to shine!” She tossed it up into the air, a torrent of water and stars gushing out. It splashed across the ground as the stars coalesced into Empoleon’s shape, the penguin pokemon blinking as she looked around.

Spotting Torterra, her eyes narrowed, body tensing in readiness for battle. “Empoleon!” The razor edges of her wings flashed as she raised them to a fighting stance, scuffing her feet along the dirt.

“Glad to see she’s ready,” Apple Bloom said, planting her hooves firmly. “Though it’s not gonna be enough to stop us!” She took a breath, and Torterra narrowed its eyes. “Torterra, let’s start things off with Earthquake!”

“Tor—” Torterra slammed its feet into the ground, claws glowing bright, “—terra!” The ground began shaking, before fractures started forming, homing in on Empoleon. Jagged chunks of rock broke free, a large piece smashing into the penguin and knocking it back.

“Hang in there, Empoleon!” Sweetie Belle shouted. “Use Aqua Jet to escape and counter-attack!”

“Empoleon!” She crossed her flippers, water splashing around her into a shielding cone. It shoved the boulder aside as she surged upward, trailing water as she adjusted her trajectory. She gathered more water around her, before rocketing downward like a missile.

“Brace, Torterra!” Apple Bloom shouted, throwing a leg up to shield her eyes as Empoleon collided with Torterra in an explosion of water. The two pokemon were knocked apart; Empoleon skidded to a stop, flippers up, while Torterra stumbled and fell to one knee for a moment.

“Good, Empoleon!” Sweetie Belle grinned. “Don’t let them get their footing back, hit them with Ice Beam!”

“Counter it with Stone Edge!” Apple Bloom shouted frantically.

Empoleon concentrated, streams of ice forming into a sphere in front of her beak. Once she had it large enough she fired, jagged trails of ice arcing toward Torterra.

Torterra pushed to her feet, claws glowing as the broken rocks surrounding her began to lift into the air. Pointing them at Empoleon, she fired them in successive volleys, targeting the ice coming her way. The two attacks collided in a cloud of whizzing fragments and ice chunks, causing the assembling onlookers to duck for cover.

Despite being so close to the struggling titans, the crowd cheered, the noise rivaling the battle. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle practically soaked in the enthusiasm, their Pokemon following suit as they readied themselves for another clash.

Pound and Pumpkin were among the loudest, stamping their hooves in excitement. Their pokemon were equally enthused; Chimchar jumping up and down on Pumpkin’s back while Turtwig watched Torterra with open jealousy.

“Okay Torterra, we’re gonna end this right here!” Apple Bloom shouted. “Give it everything you got and use Leaf Storm!”

Torterra braced itself, the vegetation on its shell starting to glow. Its tree glimmered, the leaves multiplying and taking on a sheen like fresh-sharpened knives. Once the light became almost blinding, the leaves detached in a blizzard of green, hurtling toward Empoleon.

“Empoleon, stand your ground!” Sweetie Belle cried against the howling wind. “Blast right through it with Hydro Pump!”

Empoleon crossed her flippers, eyes narrowed as water began to swirl in front of her. Rapidly building it into an enormous sphere, she slapped it with a flipper, straight into the throat of the tornado.

The two attacks were inches from colliding when a third struck from above.

The rainbow-colored comet slammed into the ground, blasting a crater along with an explosion of noise, knocking back everyone present while the multi-hued smoke and a burst of wind shattered both attacks in the process.

As the smoke started to clear, all they could do was gape in awe as the rainbow mushroom cloud dissipated in the sky above.

Apple Bloom pushed herself to her hooves, coughing as she felt Torterra trying to right itself beside her. “What the hay was that? Sweetie Belle, you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she called back. “I think that was—”

“You two got about five seconds to explain to me why you were fighting like that,” a harsh voice cut them off. From the center of the cloud, a hazy, winged form shook itself, dust billowing away with a few short flaps. “I mean, come on, I get you might be mad, but you could have hurt somepony like that, let alone your… pets.”

“Hey, Empoleon’s not a pet!” Sweetie Belle stamped her hooves angrily as she helped her pokemon stand up. “Besides, if anyone was gonna hurt them, it’d be youuuuuu…” she trailed off as the cloud cleared. “Y-you’re…”

“What?” Rainbow Dash asked, ruffling her wings to shake the dust out. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.”

Sweetie Belle gaped. Apple Bloom gaped. Their pokemon, and everyone else on the street gaped. The street was utterly silent, the rainbow mushroom cloud looming overhead. Rainbow Dash shook her back and wings, flinging dirt everywhere before realizing that everypony was still staring.

“Um, okay… starting to get a little creepy now,” Rainbow Dash muttered, before she recognized the two-toned mane of the mare in front of her. “Wait… Sweetie Belle?” She took a hesitant step forward, reaching out with a hoof. “Wow, Twilight wasn’t kidding when she said it’d been ten years…”

“Rainbow Dash… Don’t poke me in the chest,” Sweetie said firmly, stopping the encroaching hoof with her own. “Yes, it’s really me.”

“Then who were you fighting…?” Dash asked as she glanced over her shoulder. “Oh, that makes sense.”

“Nice to see you too, Rainbow,” Apple Bloom muttered.

“Jeez, AJ’s gonna flip when she sees you. Same for Rarity,” Rainbow tossed her head. “So, where’s Scoots? Figured she’d be here with you two around.”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle shared an awkward glance. “Well, it’s a little complicated,” Sweetie started, before the distant thunder of hooves became audible. Her ears perked up, and she felt her stomach flutter as she looked down the street. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Oh yeah, forgot to mention that,” Rainbow smiled sheepishly. “Hope you two were ready for a reunion.”





“That Rainbow, always goes charging into things,” Applejack grumbled as she skidded around a corner. Fortunately, the rising mushroom cloud made it easy to tell where she’d gone, and her course adjusted accordingly as she wove past passerby.

“Well, one can hardly blame her,” Rarity replied, panting at the exertion as she kept pace with Applejack. “She might not be related to Scootaloo, but she does care about her and the rest of the town.” She glanced about at the buildings, marveling at the sleek, rounded appearance. “I do wonder what sort of culture influenced this kind of design?” She almost stopped as she passed a fashion shop, but forced herself onward. “Priorities Rarity, your sister comes first.”

Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy were right behind them as the group finally entered Main Street. Ahead of them, a large crowd could be seen surrounding the base of the cloud, and they slowed down, hesitating briefly at the mix of ponies and outlandish creatures.

Applejack snorted. “Alright AJ, don’t let them get to you.” She started to push her way through the crowd. “Rainbow? You in there?” she called, trying to see past the press of bodies.

“Applejack?” A voice called back, hauntingly familiar.

Applejack froze, her ears alert as she tried to process what she’d just heard. “A-Apple Bloom?” She pushed past the remaining ponies, not even noticing as she shouldered aside Sweetie Belle to emerge into the center of the crowd. Rainbow Dash stood just in front of her, and seemed to be saying something, but she barely acknowledged it.

Time seemed to stop as she stared across the crater. The enormous tortoise glowering at her would on any other occasion have given her pause, but the mare standing beside it occupied her entire focus. It was almost like staring into a reflection, with only the colors to tell them apart. If she had to guess, they stood roughly the same height, maybe an inch or two difference. This other mare’s mane was similarly cut short in front, the back braided into a ponytail.

But what confirmed her identity beyond a shadow of a doubt was the red bow atop her head, almost comically small compared to how it used to be.

Applejack took a step forward, legs starting to shake. “Apple Bloom? Is it really you?” She felt tears forming, but didn’t move to wipe them away.

Apple Bloom nodded weakly, tears of her own welling up. “Applejack, I—” she stopped as Applejack broke into a gallop, and found her legs doing the same. The two crashed together in the middle, hugging each other tightly.

Applejack hadn’t truly cried since she was a filly, but wept openly as she held Apple Bloom. She could feel tears soaking her neck but didn’t release the bearhug for a moment. “I missed you so much, Bloom.”

Apple Bloom sniffled, trying in vain to keep from dripping mucous on her sister’s coat. “I missed you too, sis.” Finally, she released the hug and took a step back. “You look just like I remembered.” She couldn’t help the hiccuping giggle at how silly she sounded.

“I wish I could say the same,” Applejack replied as she looked Apple Bloom over. “You sure grew into your own.” She wiped at her eyes, taking a few short breaths. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you might actually be taller than me.” The grin that crossed her face felt like it was going to split it clean in two.

Sweetie Belle was trying her best to keep from bursting into tears herself, when she spotted a hoofkerchief floating beside her. “T-thanks,” she muttered, taking it and wiping her eyes, then blowing her nose.

“No problem at all, Sweetie” Rarity replied quietly, another cloth rapidly losing the battle to keep her composure.

“Rarity!” Sweetie Belle shouted, throwing her legs around her sister, bawling as she buried her head in her sister’s neck.

Rarity rested her head on Sweetie’s, giving up on the cloth as she let herself cry in earnest. She didn’t care if her makeup was ruined, it could always be reapplied. She wrapped a leg around Sweetie’s shoulders and just held her. “We were positively frantic, Sweetie. I’m so relieved to see you’re okay.”

Twilight and the others finally pushed through the crowd, falling silent as they watched their friends reunite with their lost siblings. Twilight ducked her head behind her wing to wipe her own tears away, while Fluttershy let them stream down her cheeks unimpeded.

Pinkie sniffled, pulling an oversized hankie from seemingly thin air. “Come on Pinkie, you told yourself you wouldn’t cry—”

“PINKIE!” Pound and Pumpkin cried in unison, the twins charging headlong into her and knocking her to the ground. The tangled mess of ponies tumbled head over hooves, Pinkie managing to wrap her legs around both of them in a crushing hug.

“Hey you two, your Aunt Pinkie’s back, and she’s going to throw both of you the biggest party that… that…” She stammered and gave up, opting to start crying profusely, clutching the two like they might vanish if she let go.

“Pinkie, we can’t breathe,” Pound managed to gasp out, and Pinkie relaxed her death-grip slightly.

“Sorry,” Pinkie said, giggling in spite of her watery eyes. “You know I have to make up for all the missed hugs.”

“I didn’t think you all would have come so quick,” Apple Bloom finally said as she got to her hooves.

“Heck, was all I could do to not come charging in once Twilight opened that portal,” Applejack replied.

“It’s true, we almost had to drag her out of the room,” Rainbow said, bumping Applejack with a shoulder as she trotted over. “But you didn’t answer my question, where’s Scootaloo?”

Apple Bloom glanced at Sweetie Belle, then sighed. “Look, Rainbow, there’s no easy way to say it, but—” her ears flicked as the faint echo of thunder rang across the sky. She sighed, “Of course, she’d pick now to show up.”

“What is that?” Rainbow asked, glancing around. “There’s not a storm cloud in sight.”

“That’s ‘cause it isn’t one,” Apple Bloom said, looking almost straight up. “You see her, Sweetie?”

“No, she might still be too high. She was trying to perfect that dive— Wait!” She pointed at a faint speck in the sky, a thin trail of white behind it. “I think that’s her!”

Rainbow looked up, eyes narrowed as she tracked the incoming dot. As it grew bigger, she could make out a heavyset body, wings tucked close and twitching to adjust its descent. “Wait, that’s Scoots? The wings are the right size, but I guess she really let herself go—”

“Not exactly, Rainbow, and I’d keep your head down if I were you,” Sweetie Belle started waving to the crowd. “Take cover everyone, she’s coming in hot!”

The crowd seemed a little indecisive, but the shout shocked them into motion. Within moments everyone was pressed against the buildings, leaving an improvised landing pad in the road. The freefalling shape spread its wings wide, beating the air hard as it fought to slow its approach.

“But that doesn’t make any sense, there’s no way something could reach that speed and survive,” Twilight protested as she was dragged into cover alongside the others. “Let alone something built like that!”

“Trust me, there is,” Sweetie Belle replied as the draconic shape flipped right-side up, bleeding the last of its speed. “That’s not even anywhere near her top speed.”

Twilight snorted. “Just who is her, if it’s not Scootaloo?”

“That’d be Dragonite,” Sweetie said just before the creature dropped to the ground, flapping its wings once more to arrest its fall. A small hurricane of dust and dirt swirled up, briefly blinding the crowd before another flap cleared it away. Twilight coughed, rubbing at her eyes as her vision returned.

The first thing she saw was scales. Broad, smooth plates covered the expansive belly and chest of the dragon, narrowing as they marched up its neck. She barely noticed the harness criss-crossing its chest to loop under the arms and around the back, or the orange legs strapped into it. Stubby, almost comically small wings flapped idly, though she had to squint against the wind they displaced. A pair of antenna waved on either side of the short horn atop its head. The head was equally small for its size, though the eyes stopped her. These were not some creature's eyes, but regarded her with intelligence easily the equal of her own.

Twilight gaped, brain trying to process the intensity of that stare. She was vaguely aware of her friends doing the same, but couldn't tear her focus from those calm pools of razor focus. The closest memory she had to compare it to was her foalhood professors or Princess Celestia in a relaxed mood.

Dragonite warbled, tilting her head as the ponies in front of her continued gawking. They all smelled unfamiliar, lacking any scent of the region, though the purple one at their head interested her the most. Since she'd chosen Scootaloo as her trainer, she'd seen many different ponies, but never had one possessed both wings and a horn. Finally, she couldn't stand it and reached out, poking the purple one on the nose.

Twilight half-squeaked, half-shouted, tried to bolt in three different directions, and ultimately settled for falling on her rump. She scrabbled to get to her hooves as the dragon reached for her, clawtips glinting in the sunlight.

“She’s not going to hurt you,” a voice called from over its shoulder, a windblown mop of purple mane rising atop an orange head. “Just has a bad habit of poking things she’s never seen before.”

Dragonite grunted innocently, crossing her arms as she stood upright.

“Oh don’t even give me that? Remember that nest of Beedrill? You were like a walking collection of lumps for days,” Scootaloo replied, dripping sarcasm as she pushed her goggles onto her forehead. “Now come on, let me down. Gently this time.”

Dragonite rolled her eyes, but crouched down and undid the front buckle, shrugging her shoulders to loosen the harness. With practiced ease, Scootaloo slid off to the side and tugged her legs free of the straps. “So, what’d I miss?” She glanced at the ruined street in front of her. “Looks like you two couldn’t wait to have a rematch, huh?”

“Scootaloo, is that you?” Rainbow asked, tentatively taking a step closer. “You… wow, you grew up.”

“Yeah, that does tend to happen,” Scootaloo replied as she started bundling up the harness. Tucking it into her saddlebags, she stretched her wings. “Hey Sweetie, Bloom, sorry to show up and bail, but I think I’m actually going to go catch some sleep. Long flight and all.” She didn’t wait for a reply before she took off. “Come on, Dragonite.”

Dragonite fluted and shook her head, waving an arm around at the assembled crowd.

“Alright, you can stick around and say hi to everyone. Just lock the door when you get home, okay?” Scootaloo wheeled about and flew off over the rooftops. Dragonite watched her go with a warble, antenna lashing with her agitation.

“Hey, Scootaloo, wait!” Rainbow called, spreading her wings when Scootaloo didn’t reply. She started to take off, only for a tug of magic to yank her to the ground. “Hey, what gives?”

Sweetie Belle shook her head. “Just give her a little space, Rainbow. She’s… gonna need some time before she’ll loosen up.”

“Well what the hay does that mean? I mean, she used to worship the very clouds I napped on!” Rainbow glanced the way she’d gone. “Sure, it was a little weird at times, but still, even if it’s been ten years for you...” She trailed off as the realization started to sink in.

“Think about it, Rainbow,” Apple Bloom said quietly. “For the first couple months, everyone was holding on to hope that Equestria would show up, that everything would go back to normal.”

Sweetie Belle continued, “And before we knew it, it’d been an entire year with no sign at all... and we just sort of moved on. But Scootaloo… well, she clung to hope longer than any of us. In a way, it sort of became her thing, something you could count on.”

“When did she… y’know, move on?” Applejack asked, moving to stand beside Apple Bloom.

“I think it was around the second year here, just after me and Sweetie got our cutie marks,” Apple Bloom mused. “She just came out and told us that she couldn’t keep lying to herself anymore, that Equestria wasn’t coming for us.” She ducked her head, ears flat. “And to be honest, it seemed like she was right.”

Applejack drew her sister into another hug. “I know it may not count for much, but we never gave up on ya, sis.”

“Not even for a second,” Rarity agreed, leaning slightly against Sweetie Belle.

“We believe you,” Apple Bloom hugged Applejack back. “Scoots is just gonna need more time before she does too.”

“Well, I’m gonna go talk to her,” Rainbow declared, throwing dust everywhere as she leapt skyward.

“Always charges into things,” Applejack muttered, before her brain caught on something Apple Bloom had said. “Hold on a minute, did you just say you got your cutie mark?

Rarity was having a similar reaction, mouth hanging open as she stared at her sister. “Sweetie, did you use magic a second ago? And you got your mark too?”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle glanced at each other sheepishly. “Umm, surprise?”
> Reunion Part I
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applejack waved back as the others crossed out of sight. “See y’all back at the library!” She turned to Apple Bloom with a smile, her steps eager. “So, how have the Acres done? Are Big Mac and Granny Smith alright? Just what in tarnation is your big tortoise thing?” She stopped as a flock of what she could only describe as flying honeycombs with faces buzzed by. “And what in Equestria are those?”

Apple Bloom couldn’t help but laugh. “Acres are fine, Big Mac and Granny are fine, that’s Torterra,” she grinned proudly as her pokemon lumbered behind them, “and those are Combee. You should see em in the spring when they start swarming, can’t take two steps without bumping into one.”

Applejack flinched away as one flew down to hover right in front of her. She couldn’t tell which of the three faces on it were looking at her, or if all of them were. “They don’t sting, do they?” She waved a hoof at it. “Shoo, git.”

“Combee, combee…” it trilled and drifted upward, almost sadly as it rejoined the others.

“Now, don’t be rude,” Apple Bloom chided. “Little guy was just curious. And no, they don’t sting. Well, unless you hit them.”

Applejack shook her head. “I still don’t quite get it. So these here… what did’ja call ‘em again? Pokermanz? Y’all fight with ‘em?”

“They’re called Pokemon, and to oversimplify it, yeah.” Apple Bloom waved as they passed a group of humans and ponies, several raising their cameras to take pictures. “It’s kinda more like we compete against each other to see who’s strongest, like the race in the Running of the Leaves or the Equestria Games. Sure, the Pokemon get banged up, but it’s all in good sport, and we always make sure they get treated afterward.”

Applejack tilted her head. “If you say so, Bloom… And why are ponies and whatever those are takin’ your picture?”

“Well….” Apple Bloom blushed, “I’m kind of a celebrity in the area, being one of the first three ponies to go on their Pokemon journey. I even got my certification as a Master Pokemon Breeder, and they don’t give that out easy.”

“So you… breed these Pokermanz?” Applejack squinted as the farm road came into view, a small herd of creatures running by. Her eyes narrowed further at the sign arching over the trailhead. “What’re those? And why’s the sign different?”

“Um… well…. “ Apple Bloom hesitated a moment, “We kind of expanded operations as time went on, plus they help out with keepin' pests from eating the apples. They’re Turtwigs, Torterra’s starting form.” She smiled as they vanished into the treeline. “And ours are the best in Sinnoh, not to mention unique since they grow apple trees on their backs.”

Applejack just stared blankly.

Apple Bloom laughed and continued on. “Don’t worry, AJ. You’ll catch on quick enough.” She broke into a canter as the farmhouse came into view, her grin widening as she saw the two figures waiting on the porch. “Hey, Mac! Granny! Guess who’s home for dinner!”

"Whassat now? I know I must be imaginin' that voice comin' back up the trail—" Granny's voice drifted out the farmhouse door, her eyes crinkled in a smile as she came into view. As her eyes locked with Applejack's, her voice cracked and failed.

Applejack's confusion over everything she’d seen vanished as she trotted faster, then broke into a gallop, her heart pounding in her chest. “M-Mac? Granny? Is it really you?” Her gait faltered as she drew closer, looking over the massive turtle her chair was mounted to. “Granny, what in Equestria are you riding?”

“Now that’s just plain rude, Applejack,” Granny Smith chided, though her voice was warm as she waved her cane. “Tiny here’s been helpin’ me get ‘round the the farm for a good long while now.” She paused as the enormous Torterra snorted. “And he’s a little sensitive, so be nice.”

“R-right… Um, sorry about that, um… Tiny.” Applejack half-stammered out, only to recoil as the Torterra took a thunderous step forward, bringing a set of jaws the size of her head into uncomfortably close proximity. “Uhhhh…”

Tiny tilted his head slightly, nostrils flaring as he took a deep breath. This strange pony was unfamiliar to him, but her scent told him she was family. He leaned forward, and with surprising speed licked Applejack right up the center of her face, knocking her onto her rump and covering her head in saliva.

Applejack blinked, before sputtering and spitting as she tried to wipe it off.

Granny cackled madly, interspersed with the occasional wheeze. “Aw shucks, he likes ya!”

“Aye, and it’s appreciated about as much as when Winona did it.” Applejack might have had her eyes closed, but she sensed the shift in mood as the words left her mouth. “When?” The rest didn’t need to be asked.

“Was the… fourth or fifth year, I think,” Granny said quietly, adjusting the blanket. “Old girl kept whining outside your door for a right long spell, but once we started herding Turtwigs she got out of the funk. Took to it like a duck to water too, until her joints got so bad that she couldn’t chase em no more. She was comfortable and happy right to the end, AJ, you can trust that.”

Applejack’s eyes watered, and she ducked her head to wipe them away. “I’ll have to say my goodbye sometime, then.” A small shudder ran through her as Apple Bloom and Big Mac pulled her into a hug, Granny joining in as soon as her joints allowed. “I worried I’d lost you all for good, when nopony else was lookin’,” she admitted, her muzzle wet.

“Well, we’re here now, s’all that matters,” Mac muttered, voice wavering. Apple Bloom and Granny agreed wordlessly, hugging AJ tighter.

“Mac? What’s going on?” A familiar voice called from the road. The family hug broke apart, AJ’s eyes widening in recognition as Cheerilee kept trotting closer.

“Well hey there Ms. Cheerilee! Surprised to see you here—” She stopped suddenly, eyes locked on the sleepy-eyed bundle tucked into the foal-carrier on her back. The filly’s coat was a lighter shade of Cheerilee’s, but the straw-orange mane and green eyes were a dead giveaway. Her eyes narrowed as she turned. “I suspect you got some explainin’ to do, Macintosh Apple.”

Mac gulped nervously, “Eeyup.”





Rainbow’s teeth ground against each other as she rose into the sky, her eyes darting back and forth as she looked for Scootaloo. “Gotta give it to her, she’s definitely gotten good at flying. But she’s not as fast as me.” Her scowl deepened as she leveled out into a hover. “But I gotta know where she went before I can be faster than she is!”

Before she could get around to picking a direction, she felt something coming up behind her, definitely not a pony from how much air it was displacing. Whirling about, her hoof would have connected squarely, if not for the clawed hand that intercepted it.

Dragonite warbled, shaking one of her talons in a clearly admonishing gesture.

“Yeah, um, sorry about that. Just not used to such… big things sneaking up behind me.” She blinked after realizing what she was talking to. “No offense.”

Dragonite warbled again, a bemused smile on her face.

Rainbow glanced toward the north.“So, you’re like Scootaloo’s pet or something, right? Can you tell me where she went?” Her ears went flat as Dragonite’s warble took on a growling undertone, and she looked back to see the usually cheerful eyes now dark. “Um, okay, so not a pet. My bad.”

Dragonite stared at Rainbow, antenna twitching as she tried to see if the apology was heartfelt. After a few seconds, she relaxed and chirped, smiling again.

“Right, so… do you know where Scootaloo went?” Rainbow asked hopefully.

Dragonite shook her head, keening softly. She glanced back and forth, then seemed to get an idea. She pointed west, in the direction of the mountain that loomed in the distance.

“Wait, did Scootaloo go to the mountain?” Rainbow stared up at the peak, nearly lost in the drifting clouds. “It’d be the perfect spot to build some secret cloud house, but it’d be tough to get up that high all the time…”

Dragonite sighed and pointed again, her claws lined up with a small cloud house floating serenely on the edge of town.

“Oh, that makes more sense,” Rainbow admitted. “Well what are we waiting for, let’s go!” She flapped her wings hard, glancing back toward Dragonite. “I’ll see you there—” She swerved to the side as Dragonite rocketed past her. “What the… how?” she sputtered, fighting to keep herself level in the crosswind.

The look on Dragonite’s face could only be taken as a challenge, as the stubby wings flapped again, hurling the dragon forward in spray of dust.

“Oh you’re on!” Rainbow’s wings buzzed as she took off after Dragonite. The two raced over the buildings, tearing at the sky for every bit of speed they could muster.

Dragonite glanced back, her eyes widening as she saw how close Rainbow was to catching up with her. Grinning, she looked ahead, wings pumping for another burst of speed… only to flare up and come to an abrupt halt mere inches from the cloud-home’s front door. A moment later, she felt something collide with her back, the impact scooting her forward an inch. She craned her head around to see Rainbow flattened against her back.

With a groan, Rainbow peeled herself free. “What was that for? I was just getting warmed up!”

Dragonite simply pointed at the door, then floated through it, careful to not dissipate it.

Rainbow pushed it open and trotted inside. “So… who’s house is this? Scootaloo’s?”

Dragonite didn’t respond, the floor beneath her swirling as she hovered in front of a small shelf. Bedecked with photographs, it was the only thing giving the room any sense someone lived here. Dragonite gently lifted one of the photos and looked at it, a small smile on her face.

Rainbow Dash craned her head to get a better look herself. The picture showed a much younger Scootaloo, a triumphant grin on her face as she stood beside a trophy as tall as she was. Around her stood an assembly of six creatures of a variety of forms and colors. On her left stood a monkey easily twice her height, inexplicably on fire. On her right coiled a serpentine creature easily four times Scootaloo’s size, a wide smile on it’s face despite the bruises and cuts covering its body. Looking closer, Rainbow saw the other creatures all bore injuries of some kind.

“What kind of trophy is that?” Rainbow finally asked.

“It’s from when I won the Sinnoh Pokemon League championship,” a voice said from the door. Scootaloo stepped through and into the living room. “It was my very first win, too.”

“What’d you have to do to make it there?” Rainbow asked as she turned around.

Scootaloo stared at her for a moment, then sighed. “Well, in each region are Pokemon Gyms, usually eight but sometimes more. You get a badge for each gym leader you beat, and once you have at least eight you can participate in that year’s championship. You battle one on one until it’s just two left, and then you go for the top.”

Rainbow looked back at the picture, then at the others on the shelf. Each in turn showed Scootaloo with more determination and self-confidence, the different Pokemon around her reflecting it. “Scoots, you got to know that we never gave up on you—” Scootaloo’s punch knocked her clean across the room into the wall.

“You don’t get to make apologies like that! We needed you, I needed you… and you weren’t there. You say only a week’s passed for you in Equestria, and you may even be right. But that doesn’t change that we’ve been here for ten years. For ten years we had to move on, to grow up without anyone to help us but ourselves.” Scootaloo was screaming by now, tears running down her cheeks. “And now you show up expecting things to just go back to normal?”

Dragonite keened, reaching out to her trainer. But Scootaloo shook her head and slumped to the floor.

“You’re right, Scootaloo.” Rainbow heaved herself to her hooves, a bruise already forming on her muzzle. She couldn’t help the deprecating chuckle, “Dang, didn’t think you’d be that strong though. Could probably give Mac a run for his bits with that swing. I really was kind of dumb to wish for things to just go back to the way they were.”

Scootaloo shook silently, then suddenly lunged forward, drawing her hoof back for another punch. But before it connected, something collided with her and her vision went blue.

Rainbow held her tight, her own tears starting to form. “But I want… need you to know that no matter what, I never gave up on you.”

Scootaloo shook her head, crying harder as she weakly punched Rainbow a few more times, before finally collapsing. Rainbow followed suit, the two pegasi huddling on the cloud floor.

Dragonite tilted her head, dumbfounded that this new pony and her trainer seemed to have resolved things by hitting each other, but moved all the same. She wiped her own tears away, and gently tapped the recall button on her pokeball. She figured they’d want some privacy.





“Um, excuse me, I’m sorry,” Fluttershy squeaked out as she moved around one of the bipeds, the hulking creature beside them snuffling curiously at her. It almost resembled a shark, but had legs and arms with edged fins. Its eyes were sharp, like a hawk’s, but there was no malice in them, and she relaxed a little and hurried on her way.

The town looked so similar, and yet so different, with all the new creatures walking back and forth. The buildings looked different too, strange new ones jostling for position alongside old staples like Sugarcube Corner or the library.

But what held her attention were the animals! She caught sight of the normal species that had made Ponyville their home, but alongside them were ones that looked similar, and others that looked nothing like she had ever seen. A flock of birds swooped low, trilling the same sound over and over, mingling with a swarm of what could only be described as flying honeycombs.

But nowhere did she see any rabbits, at least not in the town proper. She kept moving to what had been the east of town, toward the path which used to lead to the Everfree Forest.

It was as the buildings started to thin that she caught a glimpse of the first bunny, peering at her from the bushes. This one was grey, with a small streak of white fur along its left ear. She started to move toward it, but it vanished before she’d taken more than two steps.

“Wait!” She cantered to the bush, peering through the foliage, but no sign of the rabbit remained. She sighed, wings drooped, when another rustle caught her ear. She looked up, ears swiveled toward the source, another bush further down the road. Here, another rabbit was staring at her, this one the same grey but with the right ear white-marked. Just as before, as she approached it retreated, only for a third rabbit to appear, a splash of white on its chest.

Heedless of the odd stares she was getting, Fluttershy kept up the chase as the three rabbits steadily lead her out of town. She distantly noted that the direction they were leading her in was the same as her original destination, which raised her hopes slightly. The bunnies were lightning quick, managing to stay ahead of her the entire headlong rush through town.

Before long, the familiar shape of the cottage came into view, the path flying by under her hooves. As she slowed, however, what she saw had to be a hallucination.

The cottage was pristine, almost identical to how she’d left it a week ago. If anypony but Twilight hadn’t told her that it had been ten years for Ponyville, she’d had sworn the cottage had just dropped there from her memories.

She felt something bump against her leg, and looked down to see the trio of bunnies tapping their feet impatiently, the one with the white-splashed chest pointing at the front door. “My goodness, you’re certainly impatient. You’re just like Angel.”

The bunny eyed her for a long moment, then turned and hopped up the trail toward the cottage. As Fluttershy followed, she saw more bunnies emerging from burrows and the gardens, until a veritable horde milled around her, urging her toward the entrance. A pair jumped up, kicking the door in unison to open it for her, the rabbit stampede spilling through around her hooves.

If the outside was stunning, the inside took her breath away. All of her furniture was immaculate, though new construction wove over and around from floor to ceiling. Everywhere were animals large and small, both the normal kind from Equestria as well as new ones. And overseeing it all were yet more rabbits. They were bustling in and out of the kitchen, carrying plates filled with all manner of food from bird seed to acorns, fruits and vegetables and all manner of other things she didn’t recognize. Others patrolled along the floor and the miniature platforms, making sure every animal got the chance to eat and breaking up any disagreements.

“Oh my…” Fluttershy managed to squeak out. At the noise the swirl of activity came to a jarring halt, all eyes suddenly on her. A few of the strange animals tried to come closer, but the bunnies swiftly reined them in. The three that had led her to the cottage hopped to the front, rapidly gesturing at the others. Almost in unison, the small army nodded and began ushering all the animals from the home.

“Oh, you don’t need to leave on my behalf,” Fluttershy said immediately. “You’ve all been living here for so long it’s more your house than mine now.”

The trio of bunnies ignored her until the house stood empty save for the four of them. Noses twitching, they conferred among themselves briefly before the one with the white on his chest hopped forward. The other two took up position on either side, and on some signal all three respectfully lowered their heads.

Fluttershy couldn’t help the smile. “Oh, you’re all so adorable. You remind me of how Angel acted when I saved him from that snake…” A sudden weight settled into her chest as she looked these three bunnies over more closely. It was subtle, but the ear length, the right foot larger than the left, the particular shine to their eyes, the fiercely independent attitudes… “Are you… are you Angel’s…?”

The trio instead pointed to the back door, then hopped that way. Fluttershy followed them, the heaviness in her heart growing with each step. But she forced herself to keep moving forward, not even stopping at the splendor of the garden behind the cottage. Flowers of every shape and color were everywhere, bumblebees lazily drifting from plant to plant. More carefully tilled vegetable patches could be seen by the chicken coop, and her old tree still appeared as healthy as ever.

As they led her into the garden, bunnies began to join them: dozens, maybe hundreds, all utterly silent. Finally, at the center of the garden, her heartache met its justification.

Standing a proud two feet tall, the statue was of a bunny standing on its hind feet, ears upright and alert. In one paw it held a thin and gnarled carrot like a sword, and the other held a shield emblazoned with a butterfly identical to one of those on her flank. Beside him stood another bunny, though this one was a species she did not recognize, with all the fluff on its lower body and atop its ears. But the centerpiece statue she’d recognize anywhere.

“Oh Angel…” she whispered, falling to her knees as the tears began to fall. The trio of bunnies hopped up to join her in grief, followed by the rest of the horde.
> Reunion Part II
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight sighed as everypony scattered their separate ways. “Well, I guess I might as well see what’s happened to the library.” She lit her horn to summon a notepad and quill, though the spell took more magic than it should have. “Hmmm, maybe this world doesn’t have ambient magic to support Ponyville’s? But by that logic, Ponyville’s magic would have diffused in approximately…”

She trotted down the street, lost in her own monologue as the notebook pages rapidly filled with calculations, notes, and drawings. Before long she’d run out of margins to scribble in, and another notebook joined the first in its orbit. Soon, two others had joined them, a small solar system revolving around her head.

“Reminder, next time summon larger notebooks for increased space,” Twilight muttered as she spun the quill idly. “Okay, where was I? Ah, the peculiarly regular movement of the sun. Despite Celestia and Luna not being in this world, and not enough unicorns observed to duplicate the motions of the celestial bodies, the sun continues to move at approximately…” she glanced upright with only a slight wince for her eyes, “fifteen degrees per hour, or at least as close to that as I can estimate at this time. I'll need more data before an accurate model can be developed, unless I get banished or put in prison for crossing the portal without permission...”

She continued down the street, oblivious to the passerby staring at the ever-increasing collection of notebooks orbiting around her head.

Finally the library came into view and Twilight stopped the monologue to appreciate it for a moment. It did look roughly the same, though some of the protrusions that indicated the structure inside it seemed newer. Stretching out beside it was a whole extra addition, almost the size of the schoolhouse, with several bowl-like structures on the roof. Capping it all off was a tower topped with a series of flat panels.

“Hmmm, they’re not focusing arrays, and I don’t sense any magical emanations. Perhaps some other form of monitoring array?” Theories continued to whirl in her head as she reached the door, thankfully unlocked. She’d feel a little awkward at having to ask for her own door to be opened. If it could still be called her door, anyway.

Once inside, she stopped, jaw hanging open at the beautiful vista before her. Bookshelves, bookshelves everywhere, crammed along the walls to where there were no gaps between them. The first floor seemed much like she had left it, the familiar tomes of Equestrian lore visible, though the newer shelves held texts she didn’t recognize. She looked closer at the spines, but the structure of their language eluded her for the moment. Almost reverently, she turned down the new hallway that occupied her old kitchen space, marveling at the construction all around her.

The lights overhead were harsher than she was used to, and had a humming buzz to them that lingered at the edge of her hearing. Ahead of her, a pair of doors made of some form of glass slid smoothly aside as another pony she didn’t recognize trotted through. A stab of guilt raced through her as she realized again what the time differential had stolen from her and the rest of Equestria.

As the doors glided open at her approach, her jaw dropped open at the vista spread before her. Row upon row of glowing rectangles perched on desks, humming boxes tucked underneath. She saw several of the bipeds in front of them, tapping at boards covered with a small arrays of squares with their fingers, the images on the screens reacting in time with their actions.

Hesitantly, she trotted to one of the unused ones and peered at the screen. A small rectangle was displayed, with Equestrian text as well as more of the unknown alphabet.

“Login? Password? Hmmmm… maybe something to track who is using these things?” Twilight tapped her chin in thought.

“Have you not used a PC before?” A voice suddenly asked her in very rough Equestrian.

Twilight absolutely did not scream like a filly and spin around like she’d been caught with a hoof in the cookie jar. “Um I’m sorry I was just curious what this does!”

The biped that had obviously crept up on her held its hands up in alarm. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you!” Twilight couldn’t be sure without further study, but her voice definitely gave the impression of being female, at least from an Equestrian point of view.

“Well, I’m sorry for all the noise.” Her ears flattened “It’s just… I used to live here in the library before.. Well, before it was here.” She shook her head at how silly that sounded.

The biped’s eyes widened. “Wait, you’re Twilight Sparkle?”

Twilight blinked. “Wait, you know me?”

“Of course we do, there’s an entire section in the database about you! All your adventures up to the appearance of Ponyville here are documented.” The biped became more animated, hurrying to the closest desk, tapping eagerly at the board.

Twilight followed, peering at the screen as it brought up new images. “What is this? You called it a ‘PC’ earlier?”

“Oh that’s right, you wouldn’t know what one of these is!” The biped turned, eyes bright. “I can’t believe I’m getting to teach Twilight Sparkle something!”

“Ummm… you’re welcome?” Twilight took a hesitant step back.

“Sorry, sorry. It’s just that I’ve always been fascinated by Equestrian culture and how despite being so different from ours, there remains similarities. But what truly fascinated me is Equestrian magic and how it relates to the elemental types of our Pokemon. I’ve been studying what I can, but the books that came with the library only cover so much.” She tapped her forehead. “Being able to actually cast the magic the books discuss doesn’t hurt either.”

Twilight’s ears perked up. “So, this machine stores information?”

“Well yeah, it’s got pretty much all human knowledge and history stored. We’ve been working on adding pony history and science to it but the going’s been slow… Umm, are you okay?”

Twilight mumbled, eyes half-focused. “A whole civilization’s accumulated knowledge… in a single box… all right at my hooves…”





“So, I’m still confused. If battling isn’t for real fighting, then why do you do it?” Pinkie asked, eyes furrowed in concentration.

Pound shrugged. “It’s like… well, like sports. You know how with hoofball you sometimes get scrapes and stuff? Pokemon battles are like that, except, you know, cooler.”

“With explosions!” Pumpkin chimed in happily.

Chimchar sighed heavily and buried his face in his hands. “Chimchar…”

“So, now I have another question,” Pinkie asked, coming alongside Pumpkin. “His butt’s on fire, right? How come it doesn’t burn you?” She waved a hoof close, only to flinch back. “See, it burns me.”

“Well, it’s… hmmmm… you know, I’m not really sure. I know they talked about it in school at some point, but I wasn’t really paying attention,” Pumpkin admitted. “It was something about how the Pokemon controls their own ability, so I guess if Chimchar wanted his fire to hurt me it would, but I think they said it was more complicated than that…”

“Yeah, I wasn’t really listening that day either,” Pound agreed. “Either way, Mom and Dad are going to be so happy to see you!”

Pinkie’s ears flattened. “Yeah, I hope so…”

Pumpkin noticed and slowed her stride to walk alongside her. “Don’t feel bad about it, Pinkie! Dad always said that if anypony could, you’d probably be the one to bounce through the window, or pop your head out of the chimney, or show up somewhere else that you shouldn’t logically be. And Mom always made sure you had a plate ready just in case.”

“Um, Pumpkin? I think you’re making it worse,” Pound interrupted.

Pumpkin started to object, but then caught sight of the moisture in Pinkie’s eyes. “Ummm, sorry, Pinkie…”

Pinkie sniffed hard and wiped at her eyes. “I’ll be alright, just really feel crummy that you two grew up without me.” As Sugarcube Corner came into view, she abruptly threw a foreleg over each of them. “But at least we’re here together now!”

Together, they made their way to the door and Pound threw it open. “Mom! Dad! We’re home! And we have an old friend for you to meet!”

“What Pokemon did you pick?” Mrs. Cake asked as she backed out of the kitchen, carefully balancing a tray of cupcakes on her back. “And who do you mean, ‘old friend’?” She turned once free of the doorway and stopped cold as she saw Pinkie standing in the entrance. “P… Pink... “ She slumped to her hindquarters, the forgotten tray sliding to the floor in a clatter.

Pinkie, for her part, found the floor underhoof suddenly immensely interesting, scuffing her foreleg nervously. “Um, hi, Mrs. Cake, I’m back?” She heard the first hesitant hoofsteps, but found herself unable to look up. Her hooves, however, had no such compunction and started to drag her into the shop.

“Is that who I think it is?” Mr. Cake’s voice called down the stairs.

“Y-yes?” Mrs. Cake and Pinkie answered simultaneously, tears starting to form in their eyes as they continued their awkward shuffle toward a hug.

“I hope you’re not planning on taking vacation for a while, Pinkamena. Ten years is quite long enough, I think!” he called as he trotted down the stairs, a smile tugging at his lips.

Mrs. Cake, Pinkie, Pound and Pumpkin all stared at Mr. Cake incredulously.

Mr. Cake stared back. “What? I thought it was funny…”

Another moment passed before a gale of laughter enveloped Sugar Cube Corner. Mr. and Mrs. Cake swept Pinkie into a crushing hug, while Pound and Pumpkin threw themselves on top.

“Pinkie’s back!”





“So I understand the concept of battling your Pokemon, but you simply must tell me more about these Contest Battles, Sweetie!” Rarity trotted alongside her sister, eyes darting as she took in the boxy, yet oddly functional designs of the additions to the town. Ideas were already forming in her head to improve their overall ascetic.

And the creatures Sweetie called Pokemon! They certainly weren’t ponies, but they definitely had their potential, given the variety of forms they seemed to exhibit. The creatures called humans were certainly going to be a challenge as well, but she was confident that she’d be able to come up with something given time.

“Well, it’s a lot like battling, only it’s also about how you battle, if that makes sense.” Sweetie waved as passerby recognized her. “It’s almost like fighting two fights at once, because you simultaneously need to defeat your opponent but also perform every move you make with as much style as possible. Even getting hit by your opponent’s attack can be turned against them to at least offset losing too many points.” She stopped as a filly cautiously approached. “Well good afternoon there!”

“Um, Miss Belle? I w-w-was wondering…” the filly’s knees starting shaking, “…if you could s-sign this picture for me?”

“Of course.” Sweetie Belle beamed, though it quickly faltered. “Where is it?”

The filly stared blankly for a few seconds until the realization dawned in her eyes. “Oh! Right!” She dug in her saddlebag and produced the photo. “Here it is!”

Sweetie took the pen in her hoof and carefully signed across the bottom. “There you go! Now, this signature comes with a challenge from me. Once you’re old enough for your Pokemon journey, if you decide to go into Contest Battles, we’ll have a match, okay? Not for winning or losing, but to astound the crowd with our skill. What do you think?”

The filly gaped, then lunged forward to throw her hooves around Sweetie’s neck. “Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to bring my absolute best!” She wheeled about and galloped off toward a distant mare. “Mommy! Look what I got!”

Rarity smiled serenely. “I must say, Sweetie, you have become quite the inspirational figure here in Ponyville.”

“Well, we all did, the Crusaders, that is.” Sweetie Belle ducked her head to hide her reddened cheeks. “Anyway, let me show you the Boutique! I tried to keep to your designs, but as time went on I added some of my own.”

Rarity kept the smile on her face, though an infinitesimal tic started to creep in. But as they rounded the corner, it retreated as the familiar form of the Boutique came into view. “Sweetie, I don’t know what to say.”

The Boutique itself hadn’t changed, but was now a centerpiece to a curving structure that stretched out evenly to either side. It took her a few moments to realize, but it was a large stadium, externally sharing the original architecture of the boutique it surrounded. “This… this is incredible!”

Sweetie Belle blushed further. “Yeah, it is kind of impressive. Let me show you inside.” She trotted to the door and unlocked it. “I did have to shutter things for while I was on my last battle circuit, but I think you’ll appreciate what I’ve done with the place.”

As the lights turned on, Rarity felt a prickling in her eyes. The boutique’s main floor was almost identical to how she’d left it, the ponnequins draped in covering cloth. Beside them stood new figures, presumably some for the humans and others for Pokemon. “Sweetie, I dare say I am more than impressed: I am astounded. You should be very proud of yourself.”

“Well, I can’t claim all the credit, I had some great help from my Pokemon, and somepony else too.” She gestured toward the corner, where a literal mountainous shrine of fabric stirred slightly.

Rarity clasped a hoof to her mouth, a muffled gasp escaping as the occupant clambered down with the awkwardness of old age. “It cannot be…”

“Mrow?” Opalescence grumbled as she peered at the two ponies who’d disrupted her nap. The one she recognized as the younger who’d kept her properly fed and performed the required maintenance on her home, but the other… No, that other had vanished.

“It’s really me, Opal, my dear feline friend,” Rarity managed to squeak out.

“Mroooow.” Opal sniffed, finished the climb to the floor, and started to trundle across the room. She stopped in front of the two ponies, rheumy eyes blinking as she sized up this maybe not-new pony. With a final sniff, she turned, flicking her tail across Rarity’s foreleg.

“I am glad to see you too,” Rarity wiped the tears from her eyes with a hiccuping laugh. “How about we get you something to eat.”

“Mrow.”